Pakistan on Sunday expressed deep concern over renewed escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, urging all sides to exercise restraint and honor their commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
U.S. and Iranian forces have exchanged heavy missile and drone assaults over the past week, with Tehran targeting U.S. facilities in states across the Gulf on Sunday and saying it had again closed the vital Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have said they struck U.S. military bases in Bahrain and Oman, while Kuwaiti armed forces have said they are responding to “hostile aerial targets.”
U.S. Central Command, meanwhile, said American forces had completed another wave of strikes against Iran on Sunday, hitting dozens of targets at multiple locations with precision munitions. It said the assault struck Iranian military air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats.
The renewed violence has cast doubt on the future of the interim Islamabad MoU signed between Iran and the U.S. last month. The accord had set a 60-day deadline to negotiate and adopt a permanent framework for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war.
The past week’s events, however, suggest the deal may be over before it had any chance to take hold. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he sees the ceasefire as over, though has expressed willingness for future negotiations. Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, however, has vowed revenge for the assassination of his father.
In its statement, the Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all brotherly countries in the region. “Pakistan reiterates its strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all brotherly countries in the region, and urges all sides to exercise restraint, take immediate steps towards de-escalation, and uphold respective commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),” it said.
The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan remained committed to supporting efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy. Islamabad had made several attempts to secure the MoU, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif exchanging views with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar calling his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Sunday.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar told Araghchi dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path to resolving disputes and ensuring lasting peace. He also urged all parties to pursue de-escalation and exercise restraint in line with the Islamabad MoU agreed in June.
Both leaders concluded their call with an agreement to remain in close contact.