The United States and Iran have agreed to continue indirect negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) following constructive discussions held in Doha, with Pakistan reaffirming its commitment to facilitating dialogue between the two sides.
Speaking during the weekly media briefing, the Foreign Office said Pakistan and Qatar held separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators on Wednesday, resulting in positive progress on key issues related to the Islamabad MoU. Both sides agreed to continue negotiations after the funeral ceremonies of Iran's former Supreme Leader, with the next round of talks expected to be scheduled at the earliest opportunity.
The Foreign Office emphasized that Pakistan will continue to play a facilitative and mediatory role throughout the negotiation process. While declining to confirm whether future talks would be hosted in Islamabad, officials stated that Pakistan would welcome such an opportunity if requested by the parties.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Iran on Friday to attend the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. During the visit, the prime minister will convey condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan while reaffirming solidarity with Iran during its period of mourning.
Following his visit to Iran, the prime minister will travel to Türkiye for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral trade, investment, regional security cooperation, and expanding collaboration in priority sectors, including energy, information technology, special economic zones, and privatization.
The Foreign Office also confirmed that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, during which both leaders welcomed the positive progress achieved in the US-Iran dialogue and expressed hope that negotiations would continue in the near future.
Addressing regional issues, the Foreign Office rejected India's position regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, reiterating that Pakistan's water rights are protected under international law and emphasizing that no country can deprive Pakistan of its lawful share of water resources.
The spokesperson further highlighted Pakistan's willingness to support all diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability in South Asia, stating that the country's positions on regional issues remain fully aligned with international law and the United Nations Charter.
The continuation of indirect US-Iran negotiations represents another step toward sustaining dialogue under the Islamabad MoU, with Pakistan maintaining its diplomatic role in facilitating regional stability and confidence-building efforts.
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