FM Dar, Araghchi stress importance of dialogue, diplomacy for regional stability on UNGA sidelines

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and sustained engagement to promote regional peace and stability during a meeting in New York, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday.

The ministry said that the two ministers met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, where they also discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments.

“FM underscored the importance of dialogue, diplomacy and sustained engagement in promoting regional peace and stability,” the FO said. The two sides also agreed to “remain in close contact”, it added.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met with Foreign Minister of Iran, H.E. Seyed Abbas Araghchi @Araghchi, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The two counterparts discussed bilateral relations… pic.twitter.com/6IuMoY1PJJ

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 24, 2026

FM Dar and Araghchi last met in Bishkek on September 1, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, where they discussed bilateral relations and regional developments and reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement. Dar stressed that “dialogue and diplomacy remain essential” to regional peace and stability and said implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran was the “only way forward”.

Earlier this month, FM Dar and Araghchi also spoke by telephone, agreeing to maintain close contact and meet in New York. During the 19 September call, Dar stressed the need for uninterrupted energy supplies and the safe passage of ships, while saying that “dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means” of ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan had also been involved in efforts to facilitate dialogue between Tehran and Washington. In June, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Tehran and met Araghchi as Pakistan sought to support the diplomatic track following the US-Iran memorandum. 

Pakistan had hosted the Islamabad Talks in April, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirming Islamabad’s role as a mediator between the US and Iran. The Iranian delegation was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and included Araghchi, while Dar, Naqvi and CDF Asim Munir represented Pakistan.

Following the signing of the Islamabad MoU in June, Pakistan continued to facilitate US-Iran engagement. Four-party talks involving the US and Iran, with Pakistan and Qatar as mediators, were subsequently held in Switzerland to discuss implementation of the agreement.

More recently, Iran said it had exchanged messages with the US through Qatari mediation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Tehran conveying conditions for reviving diplomacy. The development came after Trump said US officials had held talks with Iranian representatives in New York.