A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement late on Monday said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had spoken to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and invited him “to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience”.
Separately, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also extended an invitation to his Iranian counterpart and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, according to government sources.
Pakistan and Qatar are under consideration to host upcoming negotiations, according to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, citing Pakistani government sources.
The report said the date and location for the resumption of direct talks have yet to be finalized, but mediators from Islamabad and Doha are actively engaging with both sides to pave the way for renewed dialogue.
During his stay, Iranian minister is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
(July 18, 2026)
Pakistan deployed the HQ-9 battery to Saudi Arabia in May 2026 under the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, according to the Times of Islamabad and The Daily Star. The system is operated exclusively by Pakistani military personnel — not Saudi or American crews — and functions as a standalone package integrated with Pakistan’s own command-and-control architecture rather than with Saudi Arabia’s existing air defense network, according to Defence Security Asia reporting from May 2026. The Jerusalem Post noted that Pakistan “deploys the defenses as part of a package because of their interoperability with other Pakistani systems,” a formulation that carries an embedded concession: the HQ-9 is not interoperable with anything else at the base.
(…)
The HQ-9 family’s combat record is now the most extensively documented peacetime marketing success that has failed every wartime test it has faced. During Operation Sindoor in May 2025, Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters launched two BrahMos-A air-launched cruise missiles at Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi, and Pakistan fired approximately 18 HQ-9B interceptors in response, according to Indian Defence Research Wing. The result was zero confirmed intercepts — both BrahMos missiles struck their targets, an 0-for-18 record that prompted Brandon J. Weichert, national security writer at The National Interest, to call the system “a Frankenstein’s Monster” reverse-engineered from Russian S-300 technology.
(July 18, 2026)
A report shared by Axios, said Iran allegedly fired a ballistic missile at a U.S. base in the Kingdom. Unverified videos circulating on social media purport to show a direct impact at Prince Sultan Air Base, though neither Washington nor Riyadh has officially confirmed the authenticity of the footage or the reported strike.
(July 18, 2026)
Pakistan reportedly warned Iran that any attack by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabia would be viewed as an attack on Pakistan, reaffirming its defence commitment to the Kingdom.
The warning follows recent Houthi missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, raising fears of a broader regional escalation and placing Islamabad under growing strategic pressure.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan, which helped broker an interim deal last month in the war between Washington and Tehran, signed a mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia last year and thousands of Pakistani soldiers have been deployed to the kingdom, alongside a squadron of fighter jets.
Pakistan had already voiced anger about Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia earlier this year, but regional analysts and officials said the attacks this week had pushed Islamabad‘s frustration with Iran to a new level as they raised the prospect of a new Saudi-Houthi conflict.
ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN – Pakistan on Sunday stepped up diplomatic engagement with Iran as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate amid fresh US military strikes and growing security concerns in Strait of Hormuz.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which both leaders discussed the deteriorating regional situation.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, the prime minister assured President Pezeshkian that Islamabad would continue to play a constructive and impartial role in facilitating dialogue and supporting every effort aimed at maintaining stability.
President Pezeshkian thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other senior Pakistani officials for attending the funeral of the late Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. He appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support for peace initiatives and reiterated Iran’s commitment to regional stability.
DOHA: His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has received a phone call from Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, to discuss bilateral ties and the latest regional and international developments.
The conversation focused on cooperation between their countries and explored ways to strengthen relations, alongside efforts to support security and peace in the region.
(July 6, 2026)
This development is particularly critical given the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis. Gwadar is situated 400 km east of the strait and serves as a virtual bypass of the conflict zone, allowing Central Asian exports to reach international waters without entering the high-risk zones of the Persian Gulf.
For Pakistan, this creates a substantial economic windfall as well. By positioning itself as the primary transit state for a massive market, the country is positioning itself to secure consistent revenue through port handling, logistics, and transit fees. In the wake of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, tariff at the Gwadar port has multiplied.
Earlier on Thursday, Mehr News Agency reported that the Aq Tekeh Khan Bridge in the northern Golestan province had been struck by a projectile.
A US official told Axios that the American military targeted two railway bridges in northern Iran with cruise missiles as part of Wednesday‘s strikes.
The attack marked the first reported US strike on Iranian transportation infrastructure since the ceasefire took effect on April 8.
„Qatar and Pakistan mediators concluded separate meetings with the US and Iranian negotiators in Doha today, with positive progress made on issues related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, building on the outcomes of the Lake Lucerne Summit,“ Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson and adviser to the prime minister Dr Majed al-Ansari tweeted on X.
„The parties agreed to continue discussions over the coming period, with the next meeting to be scheduled at the earliest possible time following the funeral processions of the former Iranian Supreme Leader.“
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, met President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, in a high-level meeting focused on regional developments and peace initiatives, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
During the exchange, both sides reviewed the evolving geopolitical landscape and ongoing challenges affecting regional stability. Discussions centred on the importance of coordinated approaches to reduce tensions and support diplomatic pathways amid a complex security environment.
Pezeshkian said that the visit aims to pursue the continued implementation of all MoU clauses within the framework of international law and the rights of the Iranian people.
“What has been signed must be fully operationalized,” he said.
The president said the agreement’s implementation could significantly reduce many of the region’s problems and, amid ongoing “unjust wars and aggression by the Zionist regime against Islamic countries,” and would help strengthen regional stability and security.
US Vice President JD Vance said earlier today that a new “deconfliction mechanism” was established during yesterday’s talks in Burgenstock. According to an earlier Channel 12 report, the new arrangement would replace the one brokered in 2024 under the Biden administration, which included Israel, Lebanon, the US, France, and the UN, with a new body being made up of the US, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, and Pakistan.
A communication line has also been established between the parties for the period specified in the Memorandum of Understanding to help prevent incidents and misunderstandings. The mechanism is intended to facilitate the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington and Tehran agreed to establish de-confliction cell involving Lebanon and facilitated by the mediators. The mechanism is intended to support implementation of the cessation of military operations in Lebanon and help prevent future confrontations.
(45 min ago)
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Syed Asim Munir have departed Islamabad and are on their way to Switzerland where diplomatic discussions between the US and Iran are unfolding, a statement from the prime minister’s office said Sunday.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that representatives from Washington and Tehran will participate in the discussions, while Pakistani and Qatari officials will facilitate the process. Islamabad says it remains committed to advancing the understandings reached under the MoU and promoting peace and stability through dialogue.
Vice President JD Vance on Saturday headed to peace talks in Switzerland, signaling renewed efforts to keep an agreement signed earlier this week by President Trump on track after Iranian security officials said they had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Here’s how the world has reacted to the news:
In a statement issued Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Kingdom welcomed the efforts of both countries to reach a lasting agreement that would contribute to regional and international security and stability.
The Kingdom also commended the mediation efforts undertaken by Pakistan and Qatar, as well as the positive engagement shown by the United States and Iran, which helped pave the way for the agreement.
Saudi Arabia further emphasized the importance of restoring security for navigation and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to the conditions that existed before Feb. 28.
ISLAMABAD – Arch-rivals US and Iran agreed to end more than 100 days of war, as both sides agreed on Peace agreement which includes Lebanon. Amid hope for peace, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the South Asian naiton will host the signing ceremony of an agreement between the United States and Iran, which is expected to formally take place in Geneva on June 19.
The agreement, reached after more than three months of reported hostilities, is aimed at ending military operations, including those involving Lebanon, according to the prime minister.prime mi
In a post on X, the prime minister said Pakistan is actively preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement immediately after negotiations conclude, with technical-level talks expected to begin next week. He described the unfolding diplomacy as a “crucial step” toward regional stability and welcomed what he called encouraging progress in the talks.
He thanked both Washington and Tehran for maintaining engagement during high-stakes negotiations and expressed optimism that the emerging deal could reshape long-term peace prospects in the Middle East.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States to end the war is „closer than ever,“ with finalization expected within the next 24 hours.
US President Donald Trump reposted Araghchi’s message.
Araghchi announced that significant progress had been made in efforts to finalize the memorandum of understanding reached between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad.
The Iranian foreign minister urged media outlets to avoid entering into speculation about the content of the understanding with the US before its official release.
Araghchi said all details will be shared with public in due course.
Pakistan‘s prime minister says „a final, agreed upon text“ of a U.S.-Iran peace deal has been reached.
Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X that „Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps.“
„Peace has never been this close as it is now,“ he said.
“Pakistan’s sincere efforts are meant to break the momentum of hostilities, save lives and give diplomacy a chance,” he said, adding that only sustained dialogue could resolve complex geopolitical disputes.
He concluded by urging all sides to continue pursuing peaceful solutions, stressing that diplomacy remained the most viable path toward lasting regional peace and security.
Diplomatic channels have become increasingly active as governments seek to assess the situation and prevent further escalation. Alongside his conversation with COAS Munir, Araghchi also reached out to the foreign ministers of Türkiye, UK, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and France.
During discussions, he briefed counterparts on Tehran’s position regarding recent events and reiterated Iran’s stance on safeguarding its national interests.
Interior Minister of Pakistan Mohsin Naqvi is scheduled to depart for Iran today on high-level diplomatic visit amid intensified engagement between Islamabad and Tehran as situation remained tense in Gulf.
Naqvi is carrying special message from Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir addressed to Iran’s Supreme Leader, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also entrusted him with a separate message for the Iranian leadership.
Following conversation with the prime ministers of Malaysia and Pakistan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has thanked the two countries for their cooperation with Tehran.
„I thanked Malaysia for its humanitarian stance and Pakistan for its initiative and effective efforts to reach an agreement,“ Pezeshkian said in a post on X.
During his stay in Beijing, Prime Minister Shehbaz is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in further high-level engagements.