Said to work seriously and carefully with its partners to find a peaceful solution to the conflict
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: APP/File
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday urged all parties to exercise restraint and give peace a greater chance after Iran and Israel exchanged a new round of missiles.
The statement comes after Iran and Israel exchanged strikes on Sunday for the first time since the truce announced on April 8. US President Donald Trump has urged Iran and Israel to show restraint.
In a statement posted on his
“As we work seriously and painstakingly, with our brothers and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially as the final goal is about to be achieved, we sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz further urged all parties to stay on the path of peace and diplomacy, which he said offers bright prospects for success, rather than violence and destruction.
The recent surge in violence in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it can bring. As we work seriously and carefully, with our brothers and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution…
– Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 8, 2026
Iran fired a salvo 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 also in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in pursuit of Hezbollah fighters who have fired rockets and drones across the border in solidarity with Tehran.
Iran accuses the United States of being responsible for the latest exchanges of fire with Israel and said the exchanges of fire 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 or not carried out with the consent and knowledge of the United States, were aimed at sabotaging diplomacy.
Pakistan has emerged as a central facilitator on 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 and closed the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a global energy shock. In early April, Trump threatened to destroy Iranian civilization entirely, with deadlines set for March 21, then March 23, then April 7, as diplomats scrambled for an opening.
Pakistan provided this opening. On April 8, Islamabad negotiated a two-week conditional ceasefire. Trump confirmed this himself, naming Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the Pakistanis who persuaded him to step down. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was equally warm, publicly thanking Pakistan’s tireless efforts on behalf of the Islamic Republic.
With a ceasefire in place, Pakistan moved quickly to host formal negotiations. On April 11 and 12, delegations from the United States and Iran met at the Islamabad Serena Hotel.
The American team was led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Witkoff and Kushner; Iran sent a delegation led by Parliament Speaker Qalibaf.
Negotiations lasted 21 hours, and although both sides reported progress on most issues, two issues proved intractable: the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. No agreement was reached. No memorandum was signed.
