EU Council chief hopes for an agreement between the US and Iran with the prime minister

European Council President Antonio Costa on Monday expressed hope for a US-Iran deal during a call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying “the world looks with great anticipation” to the next round of talks in Islamabad.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz received a telephone call this evening from Costa.

“During their cordial conversation, the two leaders exchanged views on the current situation in the Middle East,” it said.

According to the statement, the prime minister shared the latest updates on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and peace efforts with Costa.

“Costa expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting dialogue and stability in the region and said the EU was ready to support this process in every possible way,” the statement read.

It further added that both leaders stressed the need to continue dialogue and diplomacy to ensure lasting regional and global security. In this connection, the two leaders also agreed to keep in touch.

Later, Costa shared on X that it was a “pleasure” to speak with Prime Minister Shehbaz. He expressed his “sincere gratitude to Pakistan for its tireless efforts” to promote peace and expressed his best wishes for the important times ahead.

Costa added that the world “looks with great anticipation to the next meeting” between the US and Iran, which should take place in Islamabad as soon as possible.

“We hope that an agreement will be reached to end the conflict and lead to the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The European Union supports all ongoing efforts to bring peace to the Middle East,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said he was grateful for the EU’s appreciation of Pakistan’s peace efforts and for its readiness to support dialogue and diplomacy for regional peace and stability.

Last month, the head of the European Council reaffirmed diplomatic support for Pakistan’s Middle East peace efforts in a call with Prime Minister Shehbaz, declaring that only dialogue and diplomacy could bring peace to the region.

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.

Although the talks have yet to formally begin, US President Donald Trump said earlier that Vice President JD Vance and a US delegation were set to land in Pakistan within hours for talks on Iran, claiming a deal would be signed “today”, adding that he would be willing to meet with Iranian leaders himself if progress was made.

On the other hand, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed deep distrust of the United States, saying it was important to honor commitments for meaningful dialogue amid growing uncertainty about new peace talks.

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 around 440 kg 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.