Web Desk: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday voiced optimism that recent diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran could culminate in a durable agreement within the next two months, describing the development as a significant opportunity to advance regional and global stability.
Addressing Pakistan’s National Assembly, Sharif highlighted Islamabad’s role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran, alongside Qatar, during talks held over the weekend in Switzerland.
The prime minister said delegations from the United States and Iran participated in extensive discussions at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, with mediators working to bridge longstanding differences between the two sides.
According to Sharif, Pakistan approached the mediation effort with sincerity and remained committed to supporting constructive engagement throughout the process. He noted that negotiations continued late into the night and concluded in the early hours of Monday.
Following the talks, mediators released a joint statement outlining a framework for further engagement between Washington and Tehran.
Sharif said the memorandum of understanding reached during the dialogue represented an important step toward a broader settlement and expressed hope that ongoing negotiations would transform the preliminary accord into a lasting agreement within 60 days.
He added that the next phase of discussions would focus on technical matters, including issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme, ballistic missile capabilities and frozen financial assets.
“We hope the understanding reached by both sides develops into a durable agreement that contributes to peace and stability,” Sharif told lawmakers.
The premier also praised what he described as Pakistan’s constructive contribution to the diplomatic process, saying the country played a meaningful role in helping facilitate communication between the two parties.
Furthermore, he congratulated members of parliament, including opposition lawmakers, for supporting efforts that projected Pakistan as a responsible stakeholder in international diplomacy.
Sharif said global media outlets had widely covered Pakistan’s participation in the mediation initiative, portraying the country in a positive light on the international stage.
The prime minister described the international recognition as a valuable achievement for Pakistan, arguing that such favorable coverage strengthened the country’s image abroad.
He added that the positive attention generated through diplomacy and dialogue was difficult to achieve through conventional public relations efforts alone, underscoring the importance of Pakistan’s role in promoting peaceful solutions to international disputes.
The remarks came as international attention remained focused on efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran through sustained diplomatic engagement, with further negotiations expected in the coming weeks.
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