PM Shehbaz Urges Iran and US to Exercise Restraint Amid Rising Gulf Tensions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Gulf region and urged Iran and the United States to exercise maximum restraint during a meeting with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Islamabad.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability, the prime minister said the country would continue to play the role of an “honest and sincere mediator and facilitator” to help reduce tensions and promote dialogue.

Iranian Minister Calls on Prime Minister

Momeni, who is on an official visit to Pakistan, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Adviser to the Prime Minister Syed Tauqir Shah, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and other senior government officials, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Welcoming the Iranian delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz recalled his recent visit to Tehran earlier this month, where he attended the funeral of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei. He also conveyed his best wishes to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Bilateral Cooperation Discussed

The two sides reviewed matters of mutual interest and discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the neighboring countries.

Minister Momeni conveyed greetings and good wishes from the Iranian leadership and said his visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation, reflected Tehran’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pakistan.

He also thanked Pakistan’s leadership for its diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their role in facilitating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The Iranian minister further thanked the prime minister for traveling to Tehran to attend the funeral of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Meeting at GHQ

Separately, Interior Minister Momeni met Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), both sides discussed issues related to regional security, bilateral cooperation, border management, and matters of mutual interest.

The Iranian minister praised Pakistan’s consistent diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions, encourage dialogue, and promote peace and stability.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination and strengthening cooperative mechanisms to safeguard regional security and enhance mutual prosperity.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni meets Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at GHQ, Rawalpindi, on July 21, 2026.

Visit Amid Regional Uncertainty

Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday on an official visit accompanied by a senior delegation for talks with Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership.

His visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Gulf, as Iran and the United States remain engaged in a renewed standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about the future of the interim understanding reached between the two countries.

Despite recent military escalation, Iran’s Foreign Ministry indicated on Monday that diplomatic contacts with the United States, through mediators, remain ongoing, signaling that efforts to ease tensions are continuing.