New York (GNP): Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Islamabad remained “completely focused” on mediating an end to the war between the United States and Iran through dialogue and diplomacy. He described Pakistan’s role as that of a sincere and honest mediator between the two sides.
Speaking to reporters at the United Nations, Sharif referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) he signed in June alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump. He acknowledged that developments since then had been unpredictable.
Sharif said Pakistan had not lost hope and remained determined to make further progress towards de-escalation. Asked about the possibility of another meeting, he described the effort as a conscious process being supported by friendly countries working towards regional peace.
The United States and Iran have remained locked in conflict since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on 28 February. Pakistan has served as the key mediator between the two sides since helping secure a ceasefire on 8 April.
Islamabad later hosted high-level US and Iranian delegations for talks on 12 and 13 April. The Islamabad MoU, signed in June, set out a framework under which Iran and the United States committed to halt military operations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.
Under the MoU, both sides also agreed to negotiate a comprehensive settlement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days. Pakistan and Qatar later co-mediated the first round of high-level talks in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 21 June, attended by Vance and Ghalibaf.
Pakistan’s mediation efforts have continued on multiple fronts. On Monday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni in Tehran, where the two discussed regional developments and ongoing bilateral cooperation.
Momeni thanked Prime Minister Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their continued efforts towards regional peace and stability.
The renewed push for dialogue coincided with fresh statements from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Trump remained open to reaching a deal with Iran, while stressing that Tehran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Rubio said any agreement would require sustained effort over time and the continued involvement of mediators rather than being settled through a press conference.
President Trump separately said senior US officials had held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York, describing the talks as very good and productive. Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner took part, and a further meeting is expected soon.
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Iranian officials said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the delegation, with Pakistan and Qatar mediating the session.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tuesday’s indirect meeting involved another round of message exchange through mediators, lasting around two hours. He said Iran’s positions and conditions for reviving diplomacy were conveyed to the American side during this process.
Baghaei said Iran’s conditions included an end to US military action, the lifting of the naval blockade and economic restrictions, a halt to the war on all fronts, and the release of Iran’s frozen assets.
A senior Iranian official said Tehran was reviewing Washington’s response to its proposal to end the war. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the naval blockade were discussed during the indirect talks.
Shehbaz Sharif said, “We have not lost hope; we are absolutely determined that we will further make efforts and make progress to de-escalate the situation.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
