Qatar Signals Progress in US-Iran War Talks
Qatar's foreign ministry said mediators including Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman have reached "very progressive stages" in efforts to end the US-Iran war, pushing Brent crude down more than four percent.
Global Affairs
Shehbaz Reaches Turkiye After Saudi, Qatar Security Talks
Key Takeaways
- 1.Pakistan's mediator role in US-Iran talks may strengthen its regional diplomatic
- 2.Energy supply chain security discussions could support Gulf-Pakistan trade ties
- 3.Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Defence Agreement reaffirmation may deepen defence
April 20, 2026 · 2 min read · By Rishabh Bhardwaj
·
AI-assisted, human-reviewed · Our editorial standards
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Antalya on Thursday, completing the third leg of a tri-nation tour that began April 15 and included stops in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan received him with a courtesy call, where President Erdogan's anticipated bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum was confirmed. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi accompanied Shehbaz throughout the engagements. The tour's earlier stops carried substantive security and energy content. In Doha, a one-hour-plus meeting with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani focused on Gulf security, energy supply chain stability, and bilateral defence cooperation. Qatar dispatched fighter jets to escort the Pakistani aircraft into its airspace, a gesture Shehbaz publicly acknowledged. In Jeddah, a two-hour session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addressed the kingdom's losses from regional escalation and Pakistan's role in brokering the US-Iran ceasefire and subsequent Islamabad talks. Crown Prince MBS explicitly credited PM Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for their constructive role in the peace process. The Saudi meeting also reaffirmed the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. The Antalya Forum appearance will allow Shehbaz to present Pakistan's regional positioning to a broader multilateral audience, with Erdogan talks expected to follow.
Continue Briefing
Qatar Mediates US-Iran Talks But No Direct Contact Planned
Qatar confirmed it is mediating between the US and Iran but said no direct talks are currently planned. The clarification follows conflicting statements from President Trump, who claimed talks are under way, and Tehran, which denied any dialogue is happening.
Aramco Q2 Profits Surge as Iran War Lifts Oil Prices
Saudi Aramco reported sharply higher second-quarter 2026 profits as the Iran war restricts global oil supply and pushes crude prices up. Other oil supermajors also posted outsized earnings, raising concerns about sustained fuel cost pressure for importing economies.
Trump Issues Last Chance Warning on Iran Talks
President Trump called current Iran negotiations the "last chance" to end five months of conflict, pushing oil prices higher. Tehran denied formal talks are taking place, raising the risk of a diplomatic breakdown with direct consequences for global energy markets.