Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to US-Iran Mediation Amid Resumed Hostilities

Speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that Islamabad has not lost hope and remains determined to de-escalate the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. Despite the breakdown of the June 18 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and subsequent mutual military strikes, Sharif characterized Pakistan's diplomatic intervention as an ongoing process involving friendly nations. The renewed conflict has caused severe economic strain on energy-importing countries like Pakistan due to rising fuel costs and disrupted Gulf shipping routes. Concurrently, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the UN sidelines to advocate for dialogue, diplomatic engagement, and the protection of maritime energy supplies.

// Background

A war launched by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026, led to intense diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and Qatar. Pakistan hosted over 20 hours of negotiations, facilitating an April 8 ceasefire and the June 18 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by Donald Trump, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Shehbaz Sharif. However, renewed strikes undermined the agreement, triggering widespread economic fallout and shipping disruptions in the Gulf region.

// Key Developments

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed at the UN General Assembly that Pakistan remains committed as an honest mediator between the US and Iran.
• The June 18 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding previously established a 60-day negotiation window before conflict resumed.
• Ongoing hostilities in the Gulf are inflating energy costs and disrupting global shipping routes, impacting Pakistan's economy.
• Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in New York following recent indirect US-Iran contacts.