Pakistan PM holds 45-minute call with Iranian President

In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation on Wednesday afternoon with Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, ahead of scheduled negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad later this week.

The call, described as “warm and cordial” and lasting more than 45 minutes, highlighted Pakistan’s role in helping secure a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, following weeks of rising regional tensions.

During the conversation, Sharif expressed deep appreciation for the Iranian leadership’s wisdom in agreeing to the ceasefire and thanked Pezeshkian for accepting Pakistan’s offer to host the negotiations. He also conveyed his respects to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Pezeshkian, in turn, thanked Sharif and praised Pakistan’s efforts in mediating the ceasefire. He confirmed that Iran would participate in the upcoming talks and sent best wishes to the people of Pakistan. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

The Islamabad-hosted negotiations follow a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, aimed at preventing further escalation and stabilizing the region.

Pakistan has actively called for an end to hostilities, citing economic disruptions and security concerns. Tehran has agreed to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping during the ceasefire.

International observers see the Islamabad talks as a critical opportunity to transform a temporary pause into a lasting settlement.

While global leaders have cautiously welcomed the ceasefire, they stress that sustained diplomacy will be necessary to achieve long-term peace. Analysts note that significant hurdles remain, and the outcome of the talks will have broad implications for regional stability and global markets.