Says to work seriously, painstakingly with partners to find a peaceful solution to the conflict
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: APP/ File
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday called on all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a better chance after Iran and Israel exchanged a new round of missiles.
The statement came after Iran and Israel exchanged strikes on Sunday for the first time since the ceasefire announced on April 8. US President Donald Trump urged both Iran and Israel to exercise restraint.
In a statement on his X account, the prime minister referred to recent flare-ups in the region, stressing that the rise in violence served as a stark reminder of the fragility of ceasefires and the devastating consequences that follow.
“As we work seriously and painstakingly with our brothers and partners to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially when the final goal is just about to be reached, we sincerely call on all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz further urged all sides to remain on the path of peace and diplomacy, which he said had bright prospects for success instead of violence and destruction.
The recent surge in violence in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the dangers of a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it can lead to. While we work seriously and painstakingly with our brothers and partners to find a peaceful diplomatic…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 8, 2026
Iran fired a volley of missiles at Israeli targets in retaliation for an attack on the outskirts of Beirut. Tehran has long said any peace deal with the United States would depend on a ceasefire that also applies in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in pursuit of Hezbollah fighters who fired rockets and drones across the border in solidarity with Tehran.
Iran blames the U.S. for recent exchanges of fire with Israel, saying the exchanges would only worsen an already “chaotic diplomatic process” with the United States. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Israel’s actions in Lebanon, whether carried out with American knowledge and consent or not, were aimed at sabotaging diplomacy.
Pakistan emerged as a key facilitator in the sensitive diplomatic track, positioning itself as an “honest broker” amid sharply polarized positions between Washington and Tehran.
The war began in February 2026, when US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure. Iran retaliated across the region, closing the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a global energy shock. In early April, Trump threatened to destroy Iranian civilization completely, deadlines set for March 21, then March 23, then April 7, as diplomats scrambled for an opening.
Pakistan provided that opening. On 8 April, Islamabad brokered a conditional two-week ceasefire. Trump himself confirmed it, naming Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the Pakistanis who had persuaded him to resign. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was equally warm, publicly thanking Pakistan for its tireless efforts on behalf of the Islamic Republic.
With a ceasefire in place, Pakistan quickly moved to host formal talks. On April 11 and 12, delegations from the United States and Iran met at the Islamabad Serena Hotel.
The US team was led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Witkoff and Kushner; Iran sent a delegation led by Parliament Speaker Qalibaf.
The talks ran for 21 hours, and while both sides reported progress on most points, two issues proved intractable: the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. No agreement was reached. No memorandum was signed.
