PM urges restraint in calls with Iran, Qatari leaders

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged restraint and renewed diplomatic engagement in separate telephone conversations with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as Islamabad moved to prevent a fresh regional escalation from unraveling a hard-won peace process it helped broker between Tehran and Washington.

According to statements issued by the Prime Minister's Office, Shehbaz warned that the latest tensions risked undermining the fragile gains achieved in recent weeks and stressed that all sides must honor commitments made under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the framework negotiated with Pakistan and Qatar's mediation to end months of conflict.

"Spoke with my brother President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran today," the Prime Minister wrote on X after the conversation. "We discussed the evolving regional situation and underscored the imperative of restraint, dialogue and diplomacy to safeguard the hard-earned peace gains of recent months."

"I reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to continue playing its role as an honest and sincere mediator for lasting regional peace," he added.

The outreach came amid growing concerns in Islamabad that renewed military tensions in the Gulf could jeopardize the implementation of the Islamabad MoU, signed after months of negotiations aimed at ending hostilities and creating a roadmap for broader normalization.

During his conversation with Pezeshkian, Shehbaz expressed "deep concern" over the recent escalation and emphasized the "urgent need to restore regional peace and stability," according to the Prime Minister's Office.

He called on Iran and "all other parties" to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could jeopardize the peace gains achieved over recent months. Shehbaz also described the Islamabad MoU as an enduring framework for promoting mutual understanding, respect and shared prosperity, while reaffirming Pakistan's willingness to continue facilitating dialogue.

The Iranian president welcomed Pakistan's efforts, thanking Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and other Pakistani officials for attending the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Pezeshkian also reaffirmed Iran's commitment to peace and appreciated Islamabad's role in promoting regional stability, according to the Pakistani statement.

The two leaders reviewed progress on decisions taken during Pezeshkian's visit to Islamabad last month and agreed to accelerate implementation of bilateral initiatives.

In a separate call with Qatar's Amir, Shehbaz conveyed Pakistan's solidarity following the recent attacks on Qatar and thanked Doha for its "consistent and steadfast support" for the diplomatic efforts that culminated in the Islamabad MoU and the first round of high-level technical talks held at Burgenstock, Switzerland.

The two leaders agreed that sustained diplomacy and adherence to commitments made under the peace memorandum remained essential to preserving regional stability.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the Qatari Amir thanked Sharif, Foreign Minister Dar and Field Marshal Munir for what he described as Pakistan's leading role in advancing peace efforts and pledged Qatar's continued support for the diplomatic process.

Pakistan has positioned itself as a key intermediary in efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict, leveraging its close ties with both Tehran and Gulf Arab states while maintaining engagement with Washington.

Officials in Islamabad have repeatedly warned that any renewed confrontation could not only destabilize the Middle East but also threaten global energy supplies and regional security.

Friday's calls underscored Islamabad's determination to preserve the diplomatic momentum generated by the Islamabad MoU, even as fresh tensions test the durability of the agreement.