00:00A tentative and fragile diplomatic opening. Pakistan's prime minister said his country is
00:06ready to host talks between the US and Iran as reports intensify of behind-the-scenes efforts
00:11to broker a deal. Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honored to
00:18be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing
00:23conflict. Turkey, Egypt and Qatar have also been floated as potential venues, but according to
00:29media reports, Tehran's preferred location is Islamabad. US and Israeli media report two possible
00:36formats in the Pakistani capital, one between Iran's foreign minister and Donald Trump's top
00:42negotiators, another between the US vice president and Iran's parliament speaker. Analysts say Pakistan's
00:50push comes as little surprise. The country has long-standing ties with Iran, the killing of
00:55Iran's supreme leader triggered deadly unrest in Pakistan, home to one of the world's largest
01:01Shia populations. The UN hailed Pakistan's offer to help. I think any country, any combinations
01:09of countries that can help to bring the US and Iran together to lead to an end of this conflict
01:18is welcome. Pakistan's announcement came a day after Donald Trump postponed threats to bomb
01:24Iranian power plants, citing what he called productive talks. Iran, however, denies any negotiations
01:31with the US, directly contradicting Trump.
