Canada lauds Pakistan’s role in facilitating US-Iran understanding

Canada praised Pakistan’s “constructive role” in supporting diplomatic engagement and mediation efforts between the United States (US) and Iran that helped facilitate the recent understanding reached between the two countries, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday.

The statement comes hours after Iran and the US electronically signed the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’, and the memorandum would enter into force immediately. As a first step, the Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the US will immediately lift the naval blockade.

The acknowledgement came during a telephone conversation between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday night.

According to the FO, Anand “commended Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting diplomatic engagement and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, which helped facilitate the understanding reached between the two parties”.

The two ministers also discussed “the forthcoming engagement between the parties in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, on Friday,” the statement said, referring to the next round of diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran.

Beyond regional diplomacy, the conversation focused on bilateral ties. The FO said the two ministers, “appreciating the positive momentum in Pakistan–Canada relations, reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across areas of mutual interest”.

Read: PM Shehbaz announces signing of 'Islamabad MoU' by US, Iranian leadership

Iran and the US recently agreed to a peace deal mediated by Pakistan, with both sides declaring the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. The two sides would hold talks for up to 60 days, with the possibility of extending negotiations if necessary due to the complexity of the issues involved.

The war, which triggered a global energy crisis, erupted after the United States and Israel carried out a series of attacks on Iran on Feb 28, leading to the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the peace deal that ended the three-month-long conflict in the Gulf in the early hours of Monday in a post on X. He said the official signing ceremony of the agreement would be held on June 19 in Switzerland.

US President Donald Trump also declared an end to the war in a post on Truth Social.

Pakistan’s leadership, notably PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, have actively pursued diplomatic engagement between the two sides since the onset of the conflict. The first ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran in April was also brought about through Pakistan’s efforts.

Trump has repeatedly appreciated Pakistan’s mediatory role during the conflict, while world leaders have also praised Islamabad for facilitating diplomatic engagement between the two sides, which eventually led to the peace agreement.