Rubio meets Pakistani FM Dar amid talks on Iran war

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the State Department in Washington on Friday, as diplomatic efforts over the ongoing conflict involving Iran continued.

Pakistan has played a mediating role in contacts between Washington and Tehran, and the meeting reflected Islamabad's efforts to maintain engagement with both sides. The two officials did not speak to reporters after the talks.

What did Rubio and Dar discuss about Iran?

The meeting focused on Iran and bilateral relations, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry. It came as US Vice President JD Vance said late Thursday that progress had been made toward a possible understanding between the United States and Iran.

Iranian media reported that negotiations were still ongoing, with Iran's Tasnim news agency citing a source who said the draft text had not been finalized and wording of a potential memorandum of understanding had undergone recent revisions.

What is Pakistan's role in US-Iran diplomacy?

Pakistan has served as a go-between in contacts between Washington and Tehran during the ongoing conflict. Rubio had also recently visited India, Pakistan's regional rival, underscoring the wider geopolitical backdrop to Friday's engagements.

In a recent phone call, Rubio encouraged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to continue playing a constructive role in the diplomatic process, according to Pakistani officials.

What did Dar do before arriving in Washington?

Dar travelled to Washington after a three-day visit to New York from May 26 to 28, where he attended a high-level UN Security Council debate held under China's presidency.

He also met UN Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss regional conflicts and UN reform. Dar is expected to return to Islamabad after concluding his Washington engagements.