Regional powers Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia convene to broker end to Iran war

Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia coordinate in Antalya to broker a ceasefire in the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 17, 2026, 5:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Reuters

Antalya Forum Becomes Hub for Crisis Diplomacy

The fifth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum has opened in southern Turkey against the backdrop of an intensifying regional conflict that began on February 28, 2026. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is hosting his counterparts from Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia for the third high-level consultative meeting of this specific quartet since March. According to Turkish diplomatic sources, the primary objective of the session is to develop an indigenous resolution to the U.S.-Israel-Iran war, moving away from reliance on external mediators to a framework characterized as regional ownership.

Pakistan Leads Efforts for Direct U.S. and Iran Talks

Pakistan has emerged as a central interlocutor in the conflict, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attending the forum to facilitate a potential second round of peace negotiations. According to Pakistani government briefings, Islamabad is actively working to coordinate a diplomatic bridge between Washington and Tehran to follow up on a preliminary meeting held in late March. President Donald Trump has expressed public optimism regarding a possible settlement, though the U.S. administration continues to maintain a strict military blockade of Iranian ports until the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to commercial traffic.

Strategic Impact of the Global Energy Blockade

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces remains the most significant economic pressure point discussed by the four-nation bloc. According to energy market analysts, the effective suspension of most commercial shipping through the waterway has kept global oil and gas prices at record highs, severely impacting the economies of the mediating nations. While a modest confidence-building measure in March allowed some Pakistani-flagged vessels to transit the strait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are reportedly pushing for a comprehensive maritime agreement to prevent a nuclear leak or environmental disaster in the Gulf following Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure.