Pakistan’s latest attempt to position itself at the center of US–Iran diplomacy is beginning to look less like statecraft and more like performance. The reported dash by Asim Munir to Muscat, seeking Omani support after talks in Islamabad faltered, underlines a deeper problem. Mediation is not a stage. It is a discipline built on discretion, trust, and credibility. These are precisely the qualities now in question.

The breakdown in Islamabad was telling. The early departure of Hossein Amir-Abdollahian disrupted the choreography, and Washington’s response was swift. Donald Trump reportedly halted the travel of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan, a move that signaled more than logistical inconvenience. It reflected a loss of confidence in the setting, and perhaps in the host.

Iran’s preference for Oman as a venue is not incidental. Muscat has spent decades cultivating a reputation for quiet diplomacy, serving as a trusted backchannel between........

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