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Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has urged the United States and Iran to show restraint and pursue de-escalation as tensions in West Asia continue to rise. In a series of diplomatic engagements, Dar stressed the need for all parties to honour the commitments of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on June 18, 2026, as reported by Dawn and The Hindu.
The renewed conflict, which has seen the US and Iran exchange strikes over the past several days, threatens the fragile peace effort brokered with Pakistan's support. Islamabad is calling for dialogue and diplomacy, reiterating its role as a mediator in the region.
Coverage comparison
Pakistan's diplomatic push has been reported by both Dawn and The Hindu, with each outlet covering different facets of the effort. Dawn reported on a meeting between Dar and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, as well as separate telephone conversations between the two officials. The Hindu covered the telephone call between Dar and Araghchi, as well as a separate call between Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.
The reports describe Pakistan's broader diplomatic effort to revive the peace process, including involvement at the highest levels of government. Both outlets note that Pakistan has positioned itself as a mediator between the two sides, with The Hindu reporting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate talks with the leaders of Iran and Qatar in an effort to revive stalled negotiations.
Key claims
During a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, Dar expressed deep concern over recent regional tensions and underscored the importance of dialogue, restraint, de-escalation by all sides, and sustained diplomatic engagement to achieve lasting peace and stability, the Foreign Office (FO) stated.
The FO's spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan was doing its "utmost" to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table under the Islamabad MoU. Andrabi urged both sides to exercise "maximum restraint" and fully adhere to their commitment to resume technical-level talks.
In a phone call with Araghchi on Sunday, Dar stressed that the parties should follow the path of de-escalation and show restraint, "as agreed in the Islamabad MoU in June 2026," according to the FO.
The Islamabad MoU, signed on June 18, was a 14-point interim peace deal aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with a further 60 days of negotiations planned. Pakistan signed the agreement as a mediator. The deal's future has been cast into doubt by the renewed fighting that erupted in July.
A separate call between Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan saw the two ministers "express concern over the escalations despite the signing of the Islamabad MoU between the United States and Iran in June 2026," according to a statement from the Foreign Office. They agreed that the renewed conflict serves no one’s interest and undermines efforts toward regional peace and stability.
The reports detail a chain of escalation in recent days. Iran struck a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, setting it ablaze, after which the US carried out targeted strikes against Iran. In response, Iran targeted neighboring Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman, as reported by The Hindu, citing the Associated Press. Additionally, Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed attacks on US assets in Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, as reported by Dawn.
The renewed violence came days after President Donald Trump declared the agreement with Iran over, and amid the leadership change in Tehran with a new Supreme Leader.