PM Shehbaz Sharif Met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian UNGA Sidelines New York September 24 2026 Pezeshkian: Islamabad MoU Still Fully Acceptable Iran Ready To Take It Forward 14-Point Interim Agreement Signed US Iran June Pakistan As Mediator Conflict Continued Sporadic Strikes US Naval Blockade Iranian Ports Shehbaz: Strait Of Hormuz And Bab Al-Mandab Provocative Activities Brotherly Countries Must Reduce Tensions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, September 24, that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had confirmed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was “still fully acceptable” to Iran and that Tehran was “ready to take it forward”, a significant signal from a meeting on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Dawn News
The Islamabad MoU is a 14-point interim agreement signed between the US and Iran in June, with Pakistan as a mediator, providing a framework for ending the ongoing Gulf conflict. The conflict has since continued with sporadic strikes and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has maintained control over Hormuz traffic.
PM Shehbaz told reporters afterwards that both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab had been discussed, and called on “brotherly and friendly countries to work together to reduce tensions” at both waterways. He said Pakistan’s military and political leadership were united in their resolve to expedite peace efforts under the MoU framework.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who was present at the meeting alongside Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, confirmed that the Makkah Defence Alliance had been discussed with Pezeshkian, adding that Iran could join the alliance in the future once the secretariat was established.
Diplomatic sources note that Qatar is handling the immediate shuttle diplomacy between the US and Iran in New York, while Pakistan is working through a parallel channel with Tehran. PM Shehbaz is expected to address the General Assembly on Friday.
Iran confirmed the MoU. Pakistan confirmed the channel is open. The question is whether either holds.
Check out our previous coverage of Pakistan’s regional diplomacy on The Trusted Times.
