Pakistan’s Role as Mediator in the US–Iran Conflict Is in “Broader Regional Interest,” Ambassador Sheikh Says in Fox News Interview

By Elaine Pasquini

  

Washington, DC: Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, spoke with Fox News host Bret Baier on March 30, 2026, shortly after his country graciously offered to facilitate talks between the United States and Iran to end the four-week-old US-Israel war on the Islamic Republic. “Pakistan’s recent offer is based on goodwill and includes other regional countries,” the ambassador said.

Expressing gratitude for the trust expressed by both parties in his country to serve as conciliator, the ambassador went on to discuss the regional situation, Pakistan’s role in Iran–US negotiations, and the future course of action. “Pakistan’s role as a mediator is in the broader regional interest,” he stated.

As the US–Iran confrontation continues to expand, “We are eager to move matters forward and remain hopeful in this regard,” he said, adding that this extremely complex issue involves political, economic, and regional factors.

Stressing that Pakistan strongly believes in negotiations and diplomacy and is committed to providing every possible facilitation for meaningful dialogue, the ultimate responsibility for decisions, he pointed out, lies with the parties involved in the conflict.

Pakistan has a long-standing history of peace-based diplomacy, he reminded the audience, particularly noting Pakistan’s facilitation with US President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China in 1972.

Asked by Baier about the present status between Pakistan and Afghanistan amid the recently escalated conflict between the two neighbors, the ambassador responded: “Pakistan is the country most affected by terrorism originating from across the border.” And since the Afghan government failed to take action, despite being repeatedly notified of the actions and locations of the attackers, “Pakistan was compelled to act itself,” he stated.

“We cannot watch our people fall victim to terrorism,” Ambassador Sheikh said, claiming there is clear and unequivocal evidence of state-sponsored terrorism originating from Afghanistan against Pakistan which is “supported and sponsored by India.”

In closing, Baier optimistically noted: “There is a lot of hope up on Capitol Hill that the US and Iran see some diplomatic solution through your country.”

(Elaine Pasquini is a freelance journalist. Her reports appear in the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and Nuze.Ink.)