ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that Pakistan hopes to host a fresh round of talks between the US and Iran “very soon,” hours after US President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran were close to a peace agreement following consultations involving regional leaders, including Pakistan’s military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday that an agreement between the US and Iran had been “largely negotiated,” with only final details remaining under discussion after a series of calls involving leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.
The announcement came hours after Pakistan’s military said Munir had concluded “highly productive” talks in Tehran that resulted in “encouraging progress toward a final understanding” in mediation efforts linked to the US-Iran crisis.
In a post on social media platform X, Sharif thanked Trump for his “extraordinary efforts” to pursue peace and for holding consultations with regional leaders and Munir. He also credited the Pakistani military chief for his “tireless efforts” for peace.
“Pakistan will continue its peace efforts with utmost sincerity and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon,” the Pakistani premier said.
The conflict erupted in February after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered months of confrontation across the Middle East, disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. Although fighting formally paused under an April 8 ceasefire, negotiations have remained fragile amid disputes over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions and maritime access.
Trump wrote that the final aspects and details of the peace deal were being discussed and would be announced “shortly.” He said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen under the proposed agreement, while the Iranian government has not commented yet on specific proposals.
A peace deal has failed to materialize owing to differences over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions against Tehran and security matters related to the Middle East.
’SINCERE EFFORTS’
Pakistan has increasingly emerged as a central intermediary in the diplomacy surrounding the conflict. Islamabad hosted the first round of talks between the US and Iran in April, which failed to achieve a breakthrough.
Islamabad has since then remained in contact with the leaders of both countries in hopes of brokering a peace deal. Munir visited Tehran on Friday for talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to Pakistan’s military media wing, the discussions focused on “expediting the consultative process underway to support peace and stability in the region and to reach to a conclusive agreement.”
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, also publicly praised Islamabad’s role following the latest round of talks.
“With conservative optimism, we can hope that, if the other side is adequately committed, a positive stride is taking shape which is the result of the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran ... as well as the initiative and dedicated endeavors of the Pakistani mediator,” Moghadam said in a statement.
“I hope that the sincere efforts of the esteemed Pakistani government and army … will lead to lasting peace in the region,” he added.
Iranian officials publicly praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue, though Tehran also maintained a hard public line during the talks.
Iranian parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf warned during meetings with Munir that Tehran would not compromise on its “national rights” and accused Washington of acting dishonestly in negotiations.
Trump separately said he had also spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and described the conversation as positive.
“I had a call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, which, likewise, went very well,” Trump wrote.
The White House statement represents the clearest suggestion so far that negotiations may be approaching a breakthrough after weeks of uncertainty, though neither Iran nor other participating countries have yet publicly confirmed the terms of any final agreement.
