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Explosions rocked areas near the Embassy of Pakistan and the residence of Pakistan's ambassador in Tehran on Thursday, as the Iranian capital continued to endure sustained aerial bombardment now in its 27th day.
All Pakistani diplomats were confirmed safe but shaken by the blasts, which struck while Islamabad, alongside Türkiye and Egypt, is actively engaged in shuttle diplomacy aimed at brokering a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The strikes near the Pakistani mission came at a moment of heightened diplomatic activity. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that the United States and Iran are conducting indirect talks through Pakistan, with messages being transmitted by Islamabad. Dar described the process bluntly: "Dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward."
Pakistan, Türkiye and Egypt have been engaged in what officials described as "active back-channel diplomacy" involving US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The three countries have been carrying out what one official called "quiet communication" to help restore peace, positioning themselves as key intermediaries and leveraging their respective relationships with both sides.
A flurry of calls has taken place between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and counterparts including Araghchi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Witkoff. One regional source suggested the administration was reaching out through multiple countries to ensure its messages reach all relevant figures in Tehran.
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