News Desk
TEHRAN: Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, commended Pakistan’s mediation efforts to halt the war with the United States and Israel during an hour-long telephone conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late on Sunday night.
A statement from the Iranian presidency captured the tone of the exchange, with Pezeshkian expressing gratitude to Islamabad for stepping in to curb what Tehran described as unprovoked aggression. The call came as the conflict, now in its sixth week, continued to cast a long shadow over the Middle East, with Iranian cities hit by airstrikes, oil facilities set ablaze, and civilian casualties rising into the thousands.
Sharif, speaking from the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace. He outlined recent diplomatic efforts, including visits by the Turkish and Egyptian foreign ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s contact with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, and arrangements that allowed Pakistani ships freer passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Together, these moves have positioned Pakistan as an unlikely but significant intermediary, drawing on its ties with Tehran, its working relationship with Washington under President Donald Trump, and its position outside sectarian rivalries. Pezeshkian’s remarks appeared to signal a shift. Iran, under sustained pressure, had earlier rejected overtures from Oman and Qatar, insisting that trust must precede negotiations.
His acknowledgement of Islamabad’s role pointed to the impact of backchannel diplomacy, including the reported transmission of a US proposal and efforts to secure a temporary pause in strikes on energy infrastructure. He also praised members of Sharif’s team, echoing support expressed by officials in Ankara and Cairo for Ishaq Dar and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
