Islamabad, June 24, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian — the third in recent days — urging a peaceful resolution to the escalating conflict in the Middle East through dialogue and diplomacy.
The call came amid growing regional concerns following Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar, a retaliatory move after U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The American action was itself a response to a series of Israeli attacks targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s deep concern over the deteriorating security environment in the region.
“The Prime Minister underscored the urgent need to de-escalate tensions and restore peace through dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement said. “He reiterated Pakistan’s consistent support for Iran at international forums, including the UN Security Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).”
Prime Minister Sharif also called for adherence to international law and the UN Charter by all parties involved.
The Iranian missile attack, which prompted widespread international condemnation, was labeled a “flagrant violation of sovereignty” by Qatar. Doha warned it reserved the right to respond in accordance with international law. The incident has raised fears of a broader regional war and placed Pakistan in a diplomatically sensitive position — balancing ties with Iran, Gulf states, and the United States, one of Pakistan’s largest trading and aid partners.
The Sharif–Pezeshkian call took place just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a phased ceasefire, set to take full effect within 24 hours. However, renewed missile launches from Iran early Tuesday cast doubt on the truce’s stability. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier stated that Tehran would halt its attacks if Israel ended its airstrikes — a condition yet to be fully met.
President Pezeshkian, according to the Pakistani statement, thanked Prime Minister Sharif for his continued diplomatic engagement and expressed appreciation for Islamabad’s principled stance throughout the crisis.
“Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of unity within the Muslim world and agreed to stay in close contact amid evolving regional developments,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.
