Vance to lead US delegation as Iran confirms participation in Islamabad talks

ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, in a telephone call with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, confirmed Iran's participation in Islamabad Talks, said a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.

According to the statement, during the conversation that lasted for over 45 minutes, the prime minister conveyed his deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in agreeing to the ceasefire and for accepting the prime minister’s offer to host negotiations between Iran and the US in Islamabad later this week. 

He also conveyed his respects to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. 

President Pezeshkian thanked the prime minister and appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani leadership to bring about a temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US and conveyed his best wishes for the people of Pakistan. 

He confirmed that Iran would be participating in the negotiations in Islamabad.  

Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact, the statement said.

PM Sharif, in his post on X, termed his conversation with the Iranian president 'warm and substantive'.

PM Sharif extends gratitude

PM Sharif extended gratitude to China, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar for their “invaluable and all out support” towards reaching the ceasefire between Tehran-Washington, said a statement by the prime minister on his X later today.

“I wish to extend our deepest and sincere gratitude to our brotherly countries People’s Republic of China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Türkiye, Arab Republic of Egypt and State of Qatar for extending invaluable and all out support towards reaching the ceasefire and giving peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance to seek a comprehensive and conclusive end to the conflict”, he added.

The prime minister also appreciated the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) whose consistent support and commitment to peace and stability in the region remained “quintessential” for Pakistan’s efforts.

“The leadership of all our brotherly countries and United States of America demonstrated exceptional strategic foresight, sagacity and patience in giving peace a chance,” he said.

He also thanked the partners and friends across the world that reached out and acknowledged Pakistan’s “sincere efforts” for global peace.

PM Sharif also called out the world community to work together to forge a lasting peace in the region and beyond.

PM Sharif urges restraint

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged restraint after Iran-US ceasefire violations, warning breaches undermine peace efforts.

“I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to… respect the ceasefire for two weeks,” PM Sharif, who played a key role in securing the truce, said in a post on X

Immediate ceasefire 

Earlier,  Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the United States and Iran had agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, effective immediately, inviting delegations from both countries to Islamabad on Friday, "to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes."

In a post on his Truth Social, the US President Donald Trump said that after the request from the Pakistani prime minister and the Field Marshal, he had decided to "hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran." However, President Trump said that the ceasefire was subject to Iran agreeing to a "complete, immediate, and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz.

Separately, in response, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that for a period of two weeks, “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.” 

A White House official also confirmed that Israel has agreed to the ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

In a post on X, the PM Sharif said that both parties "displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability." 

"We earnestly hope that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!" 

The Iranian foreign minister expressed gratitude and appreciation for PM Sharif and Field Marshal Munir for their “tireless efforts to end the war in the region.”

In response to PM Sharif’s tweet and the request by the US president for negotiation based on its 15-point proposal, the foreign minister said that Iran would cease their defensive operations if attacks against the country are halted.

“For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,” the foreign minister said in a post on X.

In his post, the US president also agreed to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, adding that it would be a "double-sided ceasefire."

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said. 

The US president said he received a 10-point proposal from Iran and believed it was a workable basis for negotiations. 

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated," he said, adding that it was an honor to bring the "long-term problem close to resolution."

Dar holds conversation with Saudi FM 

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, held a telephone conversation last night with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pakistan state-run news agency, APP, reported on Wednesday. 

Quoting a spokesperson for the Foreign Office on Wednesday, APP reported both leaders discussed the situation in the Middle East and the broader region, as well as emerging developments. 

The deputy prime minister briefed his Saudi counterpart on Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and diplomatic engagement for establishing peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan FM holds telephone conversation with Egyptian counterpart 

Foreign Minister Dar held a telephone conversation last night with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty. 

The APP, quoting a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson on Wednesday, reported that both leaders discussed the evolving regional situation. 

Dar informed his Egyptian counterpart about the latest developments in Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to promote dialogue and diplomatic engagement for peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan FM holds conversation with Turkish counterpart 

Foreign Minister Dar held a telephone conversation last night with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan. 

Quoting a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson on Wednesday, APP reported that both leaders discussed the latest regional situation. 

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting dialogue and diplomatic engagement for peace and stability in the region and briefed his Turkish counterpart on ongoing efforts.

Dar contacts Morocco’s foreign minister by phone

Foreign Minister Dar held a telephone conversation last night with Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita. 

Quoting a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson on Wednesday, APP reported that both leaders held a detailed discussion on the current situation in the Middle East and the broader region. 

Dar informed his counterpart about Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts and continued engagement to promote peace and stability in the region.

PM Sharif requests President Trump to extend deadline 

Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif appealed to US President Donald Trump to extend the deadline for the US-Israeli war on Iran by two weeks. 

In a post on X, the PM Sharif said that “diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future.” 

The prime minister said that diplomacy should be allowed to run its course, requesting the US president for an extension. 

The premier, in his tweet, also called on Iran “to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.”

The prime minister also urged all parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to “allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.”

White House said in response that the US president was aware of the request by Pakistan's prime minister for a two-week extension to a US deadline for massive strikes on Iran,

"The President has been made been aware of the proposal, and a response will come," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told AFP in a statement hours before the deadline was due to expire.

Separately, the premier also strongly condemned the attack on the Al-Jubail oil facility in Saudi Arabia, while reaffirming his solidarity and full support for the Kingdom during a phone call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Overnight attacks on Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in a sprawling industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail, reported AFP.

Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia is home to one of the world's largest industrial cities, where steel, gasoline, petrochemicals, lubricating oil and chemical fertilizers are produced.

The Kingdom’s defense spokesperson said seven missiles were launched in the early hours of Tuesday, all of which were intercepted.

During his telephonic call, the prime minister condemned the attack on the Al-Jubail oil facility in Saudi Arabia. He reaffirmed Islamabad’s “unwavering solidarity” and full support for the Kingdom in light of the ongoing attacks, said the statement.

PM Sharif assured the Crown Prince that the government and people of Pakistan will always stand shoulder to shoulder with their Saudi brothers and sisters, just as the Saudi leadership and people have supported Pakistan in difficult times, as per the statement.

He appreciated the “restraint and wisdom” demonstrated by the Saudi leadership during the current tensions, and said that Pakistan is playing an “active role” in coordination with other countries to ensure the success of peace efforts. 

The prime minister also briefed the Crown Prince on Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation in the Middle East, added the statement.

The Crown Prince appreciated Islamabad’s efforts for the restoration of peace and stability in the region, said the statement.

PM Sharif conveyed his best wishes and warm regards for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, concluded the statement.

Unnecessary escalation

Pakistan military also called the strikes as an unnecessary escalation that undermines efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict diplomatically, the military’s media wing reported on Tuesday.

The statement came following the 274th Corps Commanders' Conference, chaired by Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

‘Pakistan mourns the loss of life’

Earlier today, Pakistan's Foreign Office also condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities in its eastern region and reaffirmed “its unwavering support for the Kingdom’s security,” according to an official statement issued.

“Pakistan mourns the loss of life resulting from these attacks and strongly deplores the damage inflicted on vital infrastructure,” the statement said.

Pakistan offered its sincere condolences to the families of the victims and said it firmly stood in solidarity with Riyadh, the statement added.

"The Government of Pakistan considers these attacks a serious violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a dangerous escalation that undermines regional peace and stability,” the statement said.

Israel's attack spoils US-Iran talks

Earlier today, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar blamed Israel’s attacks on Iran for derailing the peace efforts Pakistan was heading during a session in the Senate.

“Exactly when both parties were close to sitting at the negotiating table, Israel attacked Iran,” Dar told lawmakers in his address. 

He said the attack caused Iran to strike oil facilities in the Saudi Arabian city of Jubail.

The minister further stated that Pakistan is the only Muslim country that openly condemned the attack on Iran. 

Dar stated that both parties accepted Pakistan's mediation and expressed willingness to hold talks in Islamabad.