Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged Iran to exercise flexibility to end hostilities in the Middle East and establish lasting peace. In a significant diplomatic move, Sharif advised Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to pursue direct negotiations with US President Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) released an official statement on Monday (March 23) detailing the exchange.
The discussion took place during a phone call initiated by Prime Minister Shehbaz to extend greetings for the Iranian festival 'Nowruz' and the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. While the atmosphere was described as warm and cordial, the conversation quickly turned to the escalating instability in the region.
Sharif expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and offered condolences to those affected by the ongoing regional conflicts. However, his primary message was one of de-escalation. He emphasized that "dialogue and diplomacy" are the only viable paths to resolving long-standing grievances and ending the current cycle of violence.
By explicitly urging President Pezeshkian to engage with the Trump administration, Shehbaz Sharif positioned Pakistan as a proactive mediator. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating diplomatic efforts to restore regional stability.
As a neighboring country with deep ties to Tehran, Pakistan’s proposal is seen by international analysts as a critical attempt to bridge the divide between Iran and the United States during a period of heightened global tension.
