Pakistan Makes Final Diplomatic Push Ahead of Aug 16 US-Iran Deadline

August 12, 2026 — With the 60-day negotiating window under the June 17 Islamabad MOU set to expire August 16, Pakistan intensified shuttle diplomacy: Deputy PM Ishaq Dar held calls with regional counterparts and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi traveled to Tehran, while Islamabad also engaged Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Iran is demanding an end to the US naval blockade, sanctions relief, release of frozen assets, and region-wide ceasefires (including Lebanon and Gaza) before reopening the Strait of Hormuz; Washington is seeking compensation for conflict-related deaths and damages. Iran's security chief said Hormuz 'will not reopen until the US ends the war and blockade, releases Iran's frozen assets, and agrees to a region-wide ceasefire.' Any extension of the window requires mutual consent.