Pakistan Urges US-Iran to Return to Negotiations

Istanbul (ANTARA) - Pakistan is urging the United States and Iran to return to the negotiating table based on an agreement mediated by Islamabad, even though persistent mistrust between both parties continues to hinder the implementation of the deal.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, made this statement in an interview published on Thursday by The National, an English-language newspaper based in Abu Dhabi.

The Islamabad Memorandum, signed in June following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, calls for a cessation of hostilities, a 60-day period to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict, and arrangements to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping.

Iran has accused the US of failing to implement several key provisions, including those related to sanctions and US naval blockades. Meanwhile, Washington and Gulf nations are calling for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ahmad stated that there is some reluctance to implement the memorandum, but Pakistan continues to work towards pushing its implementation.

“We have open lines of communication with both parties, both Iran and the US, and this communication is taking place at a high level,” he said.

Pakistan, he continued, believes that the best way to resolve the situation and reach a comprehensive and final agreement is to return to the negotiating table.

“For that, we have the framework within the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Everything is already there. They need to return (to negotiate) … and I hope they realise this soon,” he said.

When asked which party was reluctant to continue negotiations, Ahmad said the situation was “not that simple” to determine which side was more responsible or more reluctant to return to the table.

However, he expressed hope that both parties could return to negotiations despite facing various difficulties.

Ahmad emphasised that Pakistan remains convinced that returning to negotiations is the only sustainable way to end the confrontation.