Top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt gathered in Islamabad to seek a path toward ending the monthlong war between Israel and Iran, as fighting continued across the Middle East. Pakistan said its prime minister held extensive discussions with Iran’s president, while Egyptian officials described the talks as an effort to open direct dialogue between the United States and Iran.

Despite the diplomatic push, there were few signs of progress. Israel and the United States continued strikes on Iran, and Tehran responded with missiles and drones targeting Israel and other locations in the region. More than 3,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have shaken global energy markets.

Iran has publicly rejected a peace framework proposed by the United States and instead outlined its own conditions, including guarantees against future attacks and recognition of its control over the strategic waterway. Meanwhile, the United States has deployed additional forces to the region, and Yemen’s Houthi rebels have entered the conflict, raising fears of further instability in shipping routes critical to global oil supplies.

The war has spread beyond Iran and Israel, with casualties reported in Lebanon, Iraq and several Gulf states. As missile strikes and air raids continue, regional leaders face mounting pressure to prevent a wider conflict that could further destabilize the Middle East and disrupt international trade.