Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirms push for regional peace and diplomacy in talks with Iran’s Pezeshkian

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional peace and security with the support of partners during a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Both leaders held a conversation after US President Donald Trump confirmed another round of talks, saying US representatives would travel to Islamabad for another round of talks with Iran aimed at resolving the Middle East crisis.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation during the call, which lasted about 45 minutes and involved detailed exchanges on ongoing developments.

“The prime minister thanked Pezeshkian and the Iranian leadership for sending a high-level delegation, led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Abbas Araghchi, to talks in Islamabad on April 11-12,” it said.

Read: ‘My representatives will be in Islamabad tomorrow night’: Trump on US-Iran talks

“Recent engagements with the leadership of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye have been extremely helpful in building consensus in support of sustained dialogue and diplomacy,” Prime Minister Shehbaz said, adding that such efforts were aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region.

He also thanked the Iranian leadership for their discussions with the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir during his recent visit to Tehran.

“The premier reiterated that Pakistan will remain fully committed to promoting regional peace and security with the support of its partners, and conveyed his greetings to Iran’s Supreme Leader,” the statement said.

President Pezeshkian, in turn, appreciated Pakistan’s commitment to peace efforts and said Iran-Pakistan relations would continue to grow stronger in the coming days.

Also read: FM Dar emphasizes the need for continued dialogue to resolve issues in conversation with Araghchi

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and stressed the need for continued dialogue and engagement to resolve ongoing issues.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Dar stressed that continued dialogue and engagement were essential for timely resolution of current issues and to promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.

“Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact and also agreed on a telephone call between the President of Iran and the Prime Minister of Pakistan later today,” the statement said.

After 40 days of airstrikes, US and Iranian negotiators opened talks in Islamabad earlier this month, again focusing on the familiar trade-off of nuclear restrictions for economic aid.

When U.S. and Iranian negotiators met last weekend in Islamabad, the U.S. proposed a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear activity, while Iran proposed a three- to five-year freeze, according to people familiar with the proposals.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said no date had been set for the next round of talks, adding that a framework of understanding must first be agreed.

Read more: Pakistan pushes for dialogue as disconnection persists

There were some signs in the Pakistani capital on Sunday of preparations for a resumption of face-to-face talks.

Although talks have yet to formally begin, US President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that a US delegation would arrive in Islamabad on Monday night for a new round of talks with Iran aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, a development seen as offering renewed hope for diplomacy.

“My representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan – they will be there tomorrow night for negotiations,” President Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The diplomats said a skeleton deal may be achievable, built around a nuclear package and an economic package. But they warned that the nuclear component remained by far the most contentious.

The talks focus on Iran’s stockpile of about 440 kg (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, material that could be used for several nuclear weapons if further enriched.

Beyond the stockpiles lies the deeper dispute over Iran’s right to enrich uranium at all. Trump has publicly pushed for zero enrichment, while Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes and refuses to seek a bomb.

The war has hardened Iran’s stance, diplomats said, showing it can absorb pressure even as it seeks economic aid.

Tehran’s main demand is a non-aggression guarantee after being attacked by the US and Israel during previous diplomatic efforts.