Pakistan has emerged as a key diplomatic intermediary in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, with President Donald Trump citing a direct request from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the reason for pausing US naval escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz (the critical waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes) on May 6. Islamabad's credibility as a neutral broker stems from its unique dual relationships: Pakistan has managed Iranian diplomatic affairs within the US since 1981, when Washington and Tehran severed ties following Iran's Islamic Revolution, while also maintaining close ties with Tehran, including a formal security cooperation agreement renewed after a brief border dispute in 2024. Beyond diplomacy, Pakistan's mediation is driven by pressing self-interest — the conflict has more than doubled the country's monthly fuel import bill to $800 million, driven up fertiliser prices by 50%, and placed remittances from roughly five million Pakistani workers in the Gulf at risk.