2 hours ago
Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Masoud Pezeshkian after Iran and the US signed the Islamabad MoU to end the West Asia war. The agreement positions Pakistan as a key mediator and opens space for deeper Pakistan-Iran cooperation.
Image used for representational purposes only
Islamabad,UPDATED: Jun 18, 2026 20:36 IST
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday congratulated Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the peace agreement signed with the US to end the war in West Asia, saying the deal would help rebuild Iran and strengthen peace in the region.
According to Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office, Sharif received a telephone call from Pezeshkian and the conversation lasted more than 30 minutes. During the call, Sharif congratulated the Iranian president, the country's leadership and its people on what the PMO described as a historic peace deal.
US President Donald Trump and President Pezeshkian had signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday to restore peace in West Asia. Sharif signed the agreement on Thursday as the key mediator in the negotiations.
Sharif said, "This landmark deal would not only help restore peace in the region, but also go a long way in rebuilding the Iranian nation and further strengthening Pakistan-Iran ties, across all areas of mutual interest." While praising Iran's decision to sign the agreement, he wished the Iranian side success in the next phase of talks and assured Pezeshkian of Pakistan's continued support in all spheres, the PMO said.
Pezeshkian thanked Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their roles in steering the mediation process. He said Iran would always remember Pakistan's positive and constructive efforts and its support during difficult times. He also said Iran was keen to enhance and expand bilateral ties with Pakistan across all areas of mutual interest. Both leaders agreed to visit each other's capitals at the earliest possible opportunity to carry forward cooperation on bilateral and regional matters. Sharif also conveyed his respectful regards to Ayatollah Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran.
Meanwhile, Sharif's visit to Switzerland was postponed after the document was signed electronically by the two warring sides, according to state media. The prime minister had been due to travel to Geneva on Thursday night, where Pakistan was set to co-host the ceremony with Qatar. Adil Shahzeb, head of state-run Pakistan TV, said live from Burgenstock, Switzerland, that Sharif had postponed the visit as the Islamabad MoU had already been signed and was under implementation. He added, "The US-Iran technical talks will continue separately under the agreement's framework." Overall, the developments marked the formal signing of the agreement as Pakistan and Iran also signalled a push to deepen bilateral engagement.
With PTI Inputs
- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jun 18, 2026 20:36 IST
