PM Shehbaz speaks to Pezeshkian
FO says stance on Palestine unchanged as joining Board of Peace unrelated to Abraham Accords
islamabad
As threats of a potential United States attack on Iran loom large, Pakistan on Thursday stepped in to defuse the crisis as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to the Iranian president while Islamabad was also in touch with Washington.
Within hours of a telephonic conversation between Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, PM Shehbaz also held a telephonic conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The flurry of diplomatic engagements came against the backdrop of renewed escalation in tensions between Iran and the US, which has sent multiple warships to the region. President Donald Trump warned Tehran to strike a nuclear deal or face the consequences.
Pakistan is alarmed by these developments and is believed to have been making diplomatic efforts to cool off the brewing crisis.
A read out from the PM Office said the two leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional situation. PM Shehbaz underscored the importance of sustained dialogue and diplomatic engagement for promoting peace, security and development in the region.
Reflecting the close and fraternal ties between Pakistan and Iran, rooted in shared history, culture, and faith, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintain regular high-level engagements and consultations through bilateral institutional mechanisms, to further strengthen cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral relations.
Earlier, FM Dar spoke with Araghchi amid rising tensions in the Middle East, following renewed threats by Trump to take military action against Iran.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar expressed concern over the evolving regional situation and stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable way forward. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact as the situation develops.
Separately at a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing position that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path to resolving regional disputes, warning that the Middle East could not afford another war that would derail economic development and regional stability.
He said Pakistan had consistently opposed the use of force, interference in internal affairs and the imposition of unilateral sanctions, particularly against “brotherly country” Iran.
“As war clouds hover, Pakistan has always advocated peace and diplomacy to settle all outstanding issues,” he said, adding that FM Dar held two telephone conversations this week with his Iranian counterpart to discuss the evolving situation.
