Pakistan urges Iran to exercise restraint amid escalating Gulf tensions

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged immediate de-escalation and restraint in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. The urgent conversation followed a significant military escalation in the region and the breakdown of a truce.

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The Foreign Minister urged the parties to follow the path of de-escalation and act with restraint, as agreed in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June 2026.

Dar stressed the importance of adhering to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2026, calling dialogue the "only viable path to resolve disputes." Pakistan's Foreign Ministry stated that Islamabad, serving as an official mediator, remains committed to a constructive role in bringing stability to the area.

The high-stakes call occurred amidst a massive military escalation. After a Cypriot-flagged vessel was attacked and set ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident attributed to Iran's Revolutionary Guard by Washington, the United States launched a third wave of airstrikes on 140 targets within Iran. In response, Tehran declared a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz and launched missile and drone counterattacks on positions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and Oman, prompting several regional nations to activate their air defenses.

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dialogue as the 'only viable path to resolve disputes'

This diplomatic outreach by Pakistan's leadership continues a series of high-level contacts. Foreign Minister Dar had previously emphasized the need for "time and space" for mediation mechanisms during a conversation with his Saudi counterpart. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had spoken with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, whose country, along with Islamabad, is mediating efforts for a lasting peace.

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the parties must give 'the time and space necessary' to mediation mechanisms