Pakistan hopes to host next round of US-Iran peace talks ‘very soon’: PM Shehbaz
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump PHOTO:REUTERS
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that Pakistan hopes to host the next round of US-Iran talks "very soon," as diplomatic efforts push toward a possible agreement. He pledged that Pakistan would continue its peace efforts "with utmost sincerity."
In a post on X, PM Shehbaz congratulated US President Donald Trump for actively engaging in peace prospects by having a "very useful" and "productive" telephone call on Saturday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Pakistan.
I congratulate President Donald Trump on his extraordinary efforts to pursue peace and for holding a very useful and productive telephone call earlier today, with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Pakistan. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir…
He also appreciated the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir's role in the process. He noted, "The discussions provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on the current regional situation and how to move the ongoing peace efforts forward to bring lasting peace in the region."
Meanwhile, Deptuy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said a telephone call led by President Trump with the leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE and Jordan marked "a significant step closer toward the shared objective of regional peace, stability, and an early diplomatic outcome."
Today’s important telephone call led by President Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump with the leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan marks a significant step closer toward the shared objective of regional peace, stability, and an early…
Dar praised Trump's leadership alongside his negotiating team, while also expressing appreciation for the "constructive engagement of the Iranian leadership" in advancing the peace process.
He singled out Field Marshal Asim Munir, who he said "played a central role throughout this sensitive and consequential process" and represented Pakistan in Sunday's discussions, and credited PM Shehbaz for his "visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to peace."
He also acknowledged regional partners including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar, saying their support had "contributed meaningfully to this final outcome."
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Reaffirming Pakistan's position, Dar said the country "remains firmly committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at lasting peace, mutual respect, and regional stability," adding that "dialogue and diplomacy must prevail over conflict and confrontation for the collective prosperity and security of our region and beyond."
Washington and Iran have "largely negotiated" a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said, as expectations rose that a turning point might be imminent in the three-month-old war.
Various media in the US and Iran said the memorandum that could yield an agreement lays out a phased framework for ending months of fighting, reopening the waterway soon and lifting a US blockade on Iran.
Plans for Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, which Washington has insisted it give up, would be negotiated within 30 to 60 days, the reports said. crisis since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. He did not say what else would be included in an agreement.