ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Iran discussed diplomatic efforts to promote peace in the region, Pakistan’s foreign office said on Thursday, amid hopes that a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran would end months of fighting that have disrupted global shipping lines and driven oil prices higher.
The phone call between Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar, who also serves as the country’s deputy prime minister, and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, took place as international media reported on Wednesday that the US and Iran were closing in on a one-page memo to end their war.
Pakistan has increasingly positioned itself as a facilitator between Washington and Tehran after hosting direct talks between the two sides in April that ended without a deal. Islamabad has also helped secure an extension in an earlier ceasefire between the parties. Outside of direct talks, Islamabad has also passed messages between the two sides to facilitate the dialogue process.
“The two exchanged views on recent regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace and stability,” the foreign office said in a statement.
The Pakistani foreign office said Araghchi briefed Dar on his visit to China on Wednesday and on consultations between both sides on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Beijing took place a week before US President Donald Trump visits the Chinese capital for a summit with President Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15.
Pakistan’s foreign office said on Monday that the US had evacuated 22 members of an Iranian ship seized by Washington last month to Pakistan, describing it as a “confidence -building measure.”
Trump claimed the Iranian vessel Touska was struck and seized by the US military after it refused to follow Washington’s orders to withdraw from its planned passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Apr. 19.
Pakistan said it would hand over the crew members to Iran on Monday night, adding that the ship would also be “backloaded” to Pakistani waters for return to its owners after necessary repairs.
“FM Araghchi also thanked Pakistan for facilitating the repatriation of Iranian nationals from the seized vessels earlier, and appreciated Pakistan’s continued diplomatic and humanitarian support in this regard,” the foreign office said.
Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson said on Thursday that it expected the US and Iran to reach an agreement “sooner rather than later,” signaling growing optimism that diplomacy could end months of conflict.
“We remain optimistic, and I think a simple answer would be that we expect an agreement sooner rather than later,” Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi told reporters during a weekly briefing in Islamabad.
“We hope that the parties will come to a peaceful, sustainable solution and bring peace to our region and international peace as well.”
