Axios: Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan continue mediating between Washington and Tehran

CAIRO – 13 April 2026: Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan are set to continue talks with the United States and Iran in the coming days, attempting to narrow remaining gaps and reach an agreement to end the war, according to the American news outlet Axios.

Reports indicate that all parties involved still believe a comprehensive agreement is possible. Mediators hope that narrowing these gaps will facilitate another round of negotiations before the current ceasefire expires on April 21.

Axios quoted sources stating that President Trump is considering resuming strikes if the U.S. naval blockade fails to compel Iran to change its course. The sources explained that the foreign ministers of Egypt and Turkey held separate phone calls with their Pakistani counterpart before speaking with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey have spearheaded mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, successfully persuading both sides to accept a ceasefire last week.

The Hindu reported last Wednesday that the outlines of an agreement emerged following a period of intense political turmoil.

Initially, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff rejected Iran's proposal, labeling it a "disaster." At that critical juncture, Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey intervened, drafting several revisions to bridge the divide. In the final hours before the deadline set by the Trump administration, a revised proposal for a two-week ceasefire was accepted by both nations.

Axios also highlighted Egypt's prominent role in securing the agreement, which was announced early Wednesday morning following Trump's threat of a major military strike against Iran. The report noted that while Pakistan spearheaded the broader mediation, Egypt was a "key element" in the success of the ceasefire—referencing its diplomatic influence in both Iran and Gaza—while Turkey provided additional mediation support.

In addition to the Axios report, Bloomberg stated that Egypt and Pakistan intensified their diplomatic efforts over the recent days, conducting a series of high-level contacts on Monday just hours before President Trump’s deadline for escalating the conflict.