Pakistan Affirms Continued Mediation Efforts to De-escalate Washington-Tehran Tensions

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed on Tuesday his country's unwavering commitment to continuing its role as a neutral mediator to de-escalate tensions between Tehran and Washington, urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that could jeopardize regional stability. These statements were made during his Tuesday reception of Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, where Sharif expressed concern over the recent escalation in the Gulf region. He reiterated Pakistan's continued mediation efforts and facilitation of dialogue, stemming from its deep commitment to supporting regional peace and stability. Momeni is currently visiting Pakistan leading a high-level government delegation. The reception was attended by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and other senior officials. The Iranian Interior Minister clarified that his visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations between Tehran and Islamabad. Momeni praised the mediation efforts of Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, which led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. In a related development, General Munir met with Minister Momeni in Islamabad earlier today. Their discussions focused on paving the way for a potential new round of negotiations between the United States and Iran. Pakistan had previously stated last week its commitment to "continue to encourage all parties to end violence and resume technical discussions" according to the MOU signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in mid-June. Separately, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ismail Baqai confirmed on Monday that diplomatic contacts with the United States via mediators are ongoing, despite recent American military strikes targeting the country.