PM calls for restraint, regional peace in calls with Iranian president, Qatar Emir

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for restraint and called for the immediate restoration of peace and stability in the region in separate telephone conversations with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, amid recent regional tensions following the outbreak of new hostilities between the United States and Iran.

An interim ceasefire agreement signed between Washington and Tehran – mediated by Pakistan – was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations on a permanent deal, but indirect talks in Qatar ended last week with no sign of progress and the US military unleashed a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. Iran later said it had targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait and had shot down a US MQ-9 drone that attempted to interfere in the operation. The Bahraini military later said it had foiled the Iranian attacks.

According to a statement released today by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister had a telephone conversation with the Iranian President.

“The Islamabad MoU provides a lasting basis for promoting mutual understanding, respect and shared prosperity in the region and beyond,” the Prime Minister said while emphasizing the importance of honoring mutual commitments and responsibilities under the agreement.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional peace and assured President Pezeshkian that Pakistan would continue to provide all possible support in playing “a sincere and constructive role” in restoring and maintaining regional peace and stability.

The Prime Minister urged Iran and all other parties concerned to exercise restraint and refrain from taking any action that could jeopardize the peace gains made in recent months.

President Pezeshkian thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other senior leaders of Pakistan for attending the funeral prayers and burial of the late Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei.

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He also reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to regional peace and appreciated Pakistan’s support and constructive role in this regard.

The two leaders reviewed the progress made on the decisions taken during President Pezeshkian’s visit to Islamabad last month and agreed to accelerate their implementation to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The Prime Minister also conveyed his best wishes and warm greetings to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.

The two leaders agreed to stay in touch and continue close consultations on issues of common concern, including regional peace and stability.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said they discussed the evolving regional situation and stressed the imperative for restraint, dialogue and diplomacy to safeguard the “hard-won peace gains of recent months.”

He added that he reaffirmed Pakistan’s “readiness to continue playing its role as an honest and sincere mediator for lasting regional peace.”

Later, in a separate telephone conversation with the Emir of Qatar, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed deep concern over recent regional tensions and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with the people of Qatar following the recent attacks.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister thanked Qatari leaders for their continued support for the peace efforts that led to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the first round of high-level technical talks at Bürgenstock.

The Prime Minister urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any action that could endanger regional peace and stability.

Both leaders agreed that continued diplomatic engagement and meaningful dialogue were essential to peace, and that all parties should implement commitments made under the Peace Memorandum.

He further added that Sheikh Tamim appreciated the leadership roles played by Prime Minister Shehbaz, FM Dar and CDF Munir in efforts to promote regional peace.

He also assured the Prime Minister that Qatar would continue to support efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

“I expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the brotherly people of Qatar and underlined the need for restraint, dialogue and diplomacy to preserve regional peace. I also thanked HH the Amir for Qatar’s unwavering support for the peace efforts that led to the Islamabad MoU and reaffirmed our common commitment to advance peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” Prime Minister Shehbaz said on his talks with the Qatari leader.

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Diplomacy is currently taking place behind the scenes to ease tensions in the US-Iran conflict, CNN ” reported earlier today, citing US officials.

Multiple sources, two from mediating countries and the other from a U.S. official, told the outlet that regional governments were trying to defuse tensions between the two countries.

Sources said officials from Qatar, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia held several phone calls Wednesday with U.S. and Iranian officials in an effort to reduce tensions.

“Considerable diplomatic efforts are being made to first agree with both parties on a de-escalation and then set a date for another round of negotiations between the technical teams,” said a regional source involved in the mediation.

Pakistan on Wednesday called on both sides to exercise restraint following the new round of hostilities.

Pakistan and Qatar on Thursday stepped up diplomatic efforts to save the fragile peace process. Diplomatic sources said Pakistan and Qatar, the two main facilitators of the June peace deal, remain in close contact with Tehran and Washington with the aim of restoring the ceasefire and resuming negotiations on outstanding issues, including maritime security, sanctions relief and implementation of the MoU.

Diplomatic observers say the coming days will be crucial for the future of the deal. Although neither Tehran nor Washington has formally withdrawn from the memorandum of understanding, both sides are now accusing the other of violating its provisions, making the task of mediators increasingly difficult.

Despite this sharp escalation, Pakistani officials remain hopeful that sustained diplomatic engagement can prevent a complete collapse of the peace process.

Officials say maintaining communication channels with the two capitals remains essential to contain the crisis and bring the parties back to negotiations before the conflict escalates into another large-scale regional confrontation.