Ishaq Dar urges de‑escalation with Iran amid US‑Iran tensions

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke by telephone with Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable ways to resolve the growing dispute between the United States and Iran. Both officials urged all parties to observe the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2026, to exercise restraint, and to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, noting that recent missile and drone strikes have disrupted a fifth of the world’s oil flow and driven up global energy prices.

Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to continue mediating the conflict, calling on the United States and Iran to honour the cease‑fire commitments and keep communication channels open. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also expressed deep concern over the escalation, echoing Pakistan’s call for maximum restraint and continued de‑escalation. The diplomatic outreach also involved Qatar and the Maldives, underscoring Pakistan’s role as a regional facilitator in the effort to restore stability in West Asia.