PM Shehbaz tells Pezeshkian Islamabad MoU will help rebuild Iran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday told Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian that the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding would help restore regional peace and support Iran’s recovery, according to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The PMO said the two leaders spoke by phone for more than 30 minutes in their first contact since the signing of the agreement earlier in the day. It said the understanding followed a 14-point accord reached on Monday and set out a framework to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin a further 60-day process of negotiations.

According to the PMO, the prime minister congratulated President Pezeshkian, the Iranian leadership and the people of Iran on what it described as a historic peace agreement. It said he told the Iranian president that the deal would not only contribute to peace in the region but would also strengthen Pakistan-Iran relations in areas of mutual interest.

In the official statement, the PMO said the premier welcomed Iran’s decision to sign the agreement, wished Tehran success in the next stage of talks and assured President Pezeshkian of Pakistan’s continued support for Iran as a neighbouring and brotherly country. He also conveyed his regards to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The PMO said President Pezeshkian thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in the mediation effort.

President Pezeshkian thanked PM Shehbaz and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their “extremely critical roles” in steering the mediation process with “great skill and sincerity”, which had ensured its success.

According to the same statement, the Iranian president said Tehran would remember Pakistan’s support and constructive efforts during difficult circumstances. The PMO added that he expressed good wishes for the people of Pakistan and said Iran was keen to broaden bilateral cooperation with Pakistan across all areas of mutual interest.

Leaders agree to remain in contact

The two leaders also agreed to visit each other’s capitals at the earliest opportunity to advance cooperation on bilateral and regional matters, the PMO said. It added that they would remain in contact in the coming days.

The phone call came after Prime Minister Shehbaz, President Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump signed the Islamabad MoU, with the Pakistani premier signing in his role as mediator. The agreement brought an end to more than 100 days of war between the United States and Iran, a conflict that drew broad international attention as the Hormuz crisis drove up energy prices and sent economic shockwaves beyond the region.

Under the terms outlined in the agreement, the United States is to lift its blockade of Iranian ports while Iran is to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international commercial shipping. Washington has also committed to immediately waive oil sanctions that had severely affected Iran’s economy. The deal further states that once a final agreement is reached on Iran’s nuclear programme, the United States will facilitate the release of a $300 billion reconstruction fund backed by regional countries.