FM Dar calls on US, Iran to uphold ceasefire commitment after talks end without agreement
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. SCREENGRAB
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday stressed that the US and Iran should continue to uphold their commitment to the ceasefire as talks ended without an agreement.
“It is imperative that the parties continue to uphold their commitment to the ceasefire,” said Dar during a presser as US Vice President Vance departed this morning after announcing the conclusion of talks without any result.
Dar expressed deep gratitude to Iran and the US for responding to the call made by Prime Minister Shehbaz for an immediate ceasefire in the region and accepting the invitation to hold peace talks in Islamabad.
He further expressed gratitude to the two sides for appreciating Pakistan’s efforts to help achieve the ceasefire and its mediatory role.
Dar said, “I, along with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, helped mediate several rounds of intense and constructive negotiations between the two sides, which continued through the last 24 hours and ended this morning.”
He said that Pakistan hope that the two sides continue with a positive spirit to achieve durable peace and prosperity for the entire region and beyond.
"Pakistan has been and will continue to play its role to facilitate engagement and dialogue between Iran and the US in the days to come," he added.
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Official statement of Deputy Prime Minsiter Ishaq Dar on US-Iran negotiations. Pakistan expresses gratitude to US, Iran for appreciating Pakistan's efforts to help achieve the ceasefire.@MIshaqDar50@ForeignOfficePk#IslamabadTalks #Ceasefire… pic.twitter.com/YTu7ThRWroEarlier, US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan after announcing that intensive discussions with Iran failed to reach an agreement, yet he appreciated Pakistan’s efforts.
"We have been at it now for 21 hours, and we've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That's the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America," he said while addressing a press conference.
Vance also appreciated PM Shehbaz and CDF Field Marshal Munir, saying, “Both incredible hosts, and whatever shortcomings of the negotiation, it wasn't because of the Pakistanis who did an amazing job and really tried to help us and the Iranians bridge the gap and get to a deal."
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US Vice-President JD Vance says the US and Iran have not reached an agreement following high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad@JDVance@SEPeaceMissions@jaredkushner@MIshaqDar50@StateDept@ForeignOfficePk#IslamabadTalks #Ceasefire #USIranTalks… pic.twitter.com/mnEiHvNyMAEarlier on Wednesday, PM Shehbaz announced that Iran and the United States, along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate ceasefire “everywhere, including Lebanon,” effective immediately. The prime minister invited delegations from both nations to Islamabad to negotiate a conclusive settlement.
A day earlier, US and Iranian delegations arrived in Pakistan for a conclusive agreement. PM Shehbaz held a meeting with the delegations and affirmed Pakistan's sincere resolve to continue its mediatory role.
The Iranian delegation was led by Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf and assisted by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the US delegation was led by VP JD Vance, along with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
The US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on February 28, killing thousands of people in Iran, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and leaving tens of thousands injured, with civilian areas, including residential buildings and religious sites, among those hit.
The conflict also expanded geographically. Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. It also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad, with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The meeting grabbed the world's attention and was widely appreciated for Pakistan's efforts.
Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East.