PM confident Iran-US talks will lead to lasting agreement

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that he was optimistic that the US and Iran would reach a historic agreement, following 60 days of technical-level dialogue, helping ensure peace and stability across the world, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking in the National Assembly (NA), the prime minister said that Pakistan did its best to bring both countries closer to each other. “It was due to Pakistan’s mediation that the roadmap for the next 60 days was agreed upon,” he said, and added that the MoU signed between Iran and the US was of great significance.

He said that the entire world was all praise for the role Pakistan played to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table. “The world holds Pakistan in high esteem.”

He expressed the hope that Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan would help further strengthen relations between the two countries.

He said that the development of just one province could not be termed the development of the entire country.

PM Shehbaz said that if the government formed after the 2018 general elections was legitimate, then the one formed after the February 8, 2024 elections was also legitimate.

براہِ راست:وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس سے خطاب کر رہے ہیں https://t.co/MjIrCSZhNM

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 23, 2026

Shehbaz Sharif expressed the confidence that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Iran and the United States would evolve into a long-term agreement following 60 days of technical-level dialogue, helping ensure peace and stability across the world.

He congratulated the nation on a historic development, saying that the MoU had been signed by Iran and the United States, with Pakistan serving as a mediator. “It is a historic moment that Pakistan signed the MoU as a mediator between Iran and the United States,” he remarked.

Shehbaz Sharif informed the House that the leadership of both countries participated in a high-level committee meeting in Burgenstock, Switzerland, a couple of days ago. He said Pakistan made sincere efforts to facilitate dialogue and reconciliation between the two sides, resulting in the preparation of a joint statement.

He said a ceasefire between Iran and the United States had come into effect and that technical-level talks would continue over the next 60 days.

Congratulating the nation, Shehbaz Sharif described Pakistan’s role in securing the truce as historic, adding the country’s efforts had received widespread recognition in international media. “The respect Pakistan has earned around the world through this achievement could not have been bought even by spending billions,” he added.

Shehbaz also informed the House that Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad later in the day, where discussions would be held on further expanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Referring to remarks made by Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif said if the opposition was so desperate to get the general elections held on February 8, 2024 investigated, why not those held in 2018 were investigated first. “If we start probing elections, then it will open a pandora’s box,” he opined.

The prime minister was of the view that the opposition should be prepared to give a warm reception to the Iranian president rather than bringing up the dead past.

He said he strongly disagreed with the opposition leader’s statement in which he had said that the present government had no justification to remain in power.

He said all four provinces had contributed to the development of Balochistan, which he termed a matter of satisfaction. He reiterated his longstanding view that Pakistan could not achieve sustainable economic development unless all four provinces progressed equally.

Reporter Rozina Ali