Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed serious concern over the recent rise in tensions in the Gulf region during a meeting with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni on Tuesday. He called on both Iran and the United States to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s dedication to promoting peace and stability in the region, the prime minister highlighted the country’s ongoing role as an impartial and committed mediator and facilitator in regional conflicts.
Momeni, who is visiting Pakistan officially, met with PM Shehbaz at the Prime Minister’s House. The meeting was attended by several senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Syed Tauqir Shah, and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
Welcoming the Iranian delegation, Shehbaz recalled his recent trip to Tehran to attend the funeral of the late Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei. He conveyed his respectful regards and best wishes to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The discussions focused on issues of mutual interest and enhancing bilateral cooperation. Momeni extended greetings from the Iranian leadership and emphasized his delegation’s mission to strengthen ties between the neighboring countries. He also expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, specifically appreciating PM Shehbaz, DPM Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for facilitating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Notably, Momeni thanked the prime minister for attending the funeral ceremony of the late Ali Khamenei in Tehran. In a separate engagement, Momeni met with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. Their talks covered regional and bilateral security concerns as well as effective border management.
The Iranian official praised Pakistan’s consistent diplomatic role in easing regional tensions, promoting de-escalation, and acting as a stabilizing force for peace. The meeting concluded with a commitment to maintain close coordination and cooperative mechanisms aimed at safeguarding regional security and fostering mutual prosperity.
Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday with a high-level delegation for discussions with Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership. His visit coincides with renewed tensions between Iran and the United States over the Strait of Hormuz, which have cast doubt on the future of the interim agreement negotiated between the two nations.
Despite recent US military strikes on Iran, diplomatic communications via mediators remain active. Pakistan reiterated last week its intention to encourage both parties to halt hostilities and resume dialogue under the MoU it helped broker last month. The agreement’s viability was challenged when hostilities flared up again this month.
Previously, Momeni participated in mediation talks and met with Interior Minister Naqvi during his visit to Iran, underscoring ongoing efforts to foster dialogue and reduce conflict in the region.
