Pakistan, Iran FMs discuss energy supplies amid regional deadlock

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed regional developments in a phone call on Saturday, September 19, 2026, amid ongoing disruptions to global energy supplies and a deadlocked military conflict between the United States and Iran. Dar emphasized the critical need for uninterrupted energy supplies and the safe passage of commercial ships, highlighting the severe impact of current disruptions on developing countries and global supply chains. According to a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement, he stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to ensuring peace and stability in the region. The conversation comes as the broader Middle East conflict continues to choke vital maritime routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a key passage for Gulf crude exports, has been restricted by Iran for six months following large-scale US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February. The situation has been compounded by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi forces gaining control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, another critical artery for oil exports, particularly affecting Saudi shipments.