ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s mediation role and commitment to regional peace during separate high-level meetings with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, as renewed tensions in the Gulf raised fears of wider instability.
The Iranian minister’s visit placed Pakistan’s diplomatic role at the centre of the discussions, with Islamabad offering to continue facilitating efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States while also strengthening bilateral security and border coordination with Tehran.
During his meeting with Momeni at the Prime Minister’s House, PM Shehbaz expressed deep concern over the latest escalation in the Gulf and urged all sides to exercise restraint and avoid steps that could further destabilise the region.
The prime minister said Pakistan would continue acting as an honest and sincere mediator and facilitator, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to regional peace and stability.
The statement marked a clear continuation of Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran rather than a routine exchange of bilateral assurances. Islamabad has remained involved in efforts to preserve communication between the two sides as direct tensions have repeatedly threatened regional security, energy routes and economic stability.
Momeni thanked the Pakistani leadership for its role in previous mediation efforts and specifically appreciated PM Shehbaz, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts leading to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
His remarks indicated that Tehran continues to view Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership as an important diplomatic channel during periods of heightened confrontation.
Momeni, who was leading a delegation of senior Iranian officials, also conveyed greetings from Iran’s leadership and said the visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.
PM Shehbaz recalled his recent visit to Tehran and conveyed his good wishes to Iran’s senior leadership. The meeting was also attended by Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and other senior officials.
In a separate meeting at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Field Marshal Asim Munir and the Iranian interior minister discussed regional and bilateral security, matters of mutual interest and effective management of the Pakistan-Iran border.
According to the military’s media wing, Momeni appreciated Pakistan’s consistent efforts to reduce regional tensions, encourage de-escalation and serve as an anchor for peace.
The talks concluded with both sides reaffirming their resolve to maintain close coordination and cooperative mechanisms to protect regional security and promote mutual prosperity.
The separate meetings reflected the two dimensions of Pakistan’s engagement with Iran: diplomatic facilitation at the political level and practical security cooperation along the shared border.
The mediation message provided the central diplomatic outcome of the visit. Rather than limiting the engagement to border management or bilateral relations, Pakistan used the talks to publicly restate its willingness to help contain a conflict whose consequences could extend across the Gulf and wider region.
For Islamabad, preventing further escalation carries direct strategic and economic importance. Instability involving Iran could disrupt regional trade, energy supplies and maritime routes while placing additional pressure on Pakistan’s economy and security environment.
Pakistan’s working relations with Iran, the United States and key Gulf states give Islamabad space to maintain communication with competing sides. However, the effectiveness of that role will depend on whether the parties remain willing to pursue restraint and diplomacy.
The Iranian minister’s acknowledgement of Pakistan’s previous mediation efforts strengthened Islamabad’s claim that its role extends beyond public calls for peace and includes sustained diplomatic engagement with the countries involved.
The visit therefore served both as a review of Pakistan-Iran cooperation and as a renewed signal that Islamabad intends to remain involved in efforts to prevent another major regional confrontation.
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