Pakistan and Iran discussed on Wednesday the ongoing regional situation and peace efforts.
As per the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ambassador of Iran Reza Amiri Moghadam called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The meeting comes after US President Donald Trump announced to extend the ceasefire with Iran at the request of PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar spoke on telephone with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed with him regional developments.
During the conversation, they emphasized the importance of dialogue and engagement for achieving lasting peace and stability. Saudi Foreign Minister reiterated the Kingdom’s support for Pakistan’s continued efforts in this regard. The two leaders also agreed to remain in close contact.
Later, Dar spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two leaders exchanged views on the latest regional developments and reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in peaceful settlement of disputes.
The DPM/ FM expressed gratitude for gracious Turkish hospitality extended to the prime minister and Pakistani delegation, including himself, during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) last weekend as well as for hosting the third meeting of the R-4 on the sidelines of ADF in which Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan participated, a DPM’s Office news release said.
Separately, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Wednesday that the Islamic republic appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to end the Middle East war, without commenting on a ceasefire extension announced by the United States.
He expressed these views while answering reporters’ questions, a statement by Iran’s foreign ministry said, adding that Baqaei was asked about Pakistan’s request to extend a ceasefire agreed between Tehran and Washington on April 8.
Iranian foreign ministry’s statement said that while “expressing gratitude for Pakistan’s gracious efforts and mediation attempts to end the imposed war and establish peace in the region”, Baqaei stressed that Tehran “is taking the necessary measures to safeguard Iran’s national interests and security”.
He added that Iranian armed forces stood “ready to comprehensively and decisively defend the nation’s integrity against any threat or hostility”.
When asked about the possibility of a second round of talks with the US, the statement said, Baqaei replied: “Diplomacy is a tool to secure national interests and security, and whenever we conclude that the necessary and logical groundwork is in place to use this tool for realising national interests and consolidating the Iranian nation’s achievements in frustrating enemies from achieving their sinister goals, we will take action.”
He emphasised that Iran had not initiated the war and that all of Tehran’s actions “have been carried out in line with its inherent right to legitimate self-defence against military aggression by the United States and the Israeli regime”.