Pakistan Mediating US–Iran Contacts, PM Shehbaz Tells Iranian President in Hour-Long Call
By Tahir Shah :
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian about Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to facilitate peace talks between the United States and Iran during a phone call that lasted more than an hour, according to an official statement.
The conversation took place on Saturday as Islamabad steps up mediation efforts in coordination with Turkiye and Egypt to reduce tensions in the region.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the two leaders held extensive discussions on the ongoing regional hostilities and possible pathways towards de-escalation.
During the call, Mr Sharif briefed the Iranian president on diplomatic outreach being carried out by Pakistan’s leadership, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The outreach aims to engage the United States, Gulf states and other Islamic countries to help create conditions conducive to dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
The prime minister also shared what the PMO described as strong international support for Pakistan’s peace initiative, expressing hope that collective efforts could help pave the way for ending hostilities in the region.
Mr Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of what he described as continued Israeli attacks on Iran, including recent strikes on civilian infrastructure. He also expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and offered condolences over the reported loss of more than 1,900 lives.
President Pezeshkian, according to the statement, welcomed Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and shared Tehran’s perspective on the conflict.
He emphasised the importance of building trust as a foundation for dialogue and mediation, while praising Pakistan’s role in promoting peace initiatives.
Mr Sharif thanked the Iranian leader and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at restoring stability in the region.
Pakistan is expected to host the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt from 29 to 30 March for consultations on regional developments, including measures to ease tensions linked to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that indirect communication between the United States and Iran was taking place through messages relayed by Pakistan.
He said Washington had shared a 15-point framework that was currently under consideration by Tehran, while Turkiye and Egypt were assisting in the diplomatic process.
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