Zardari Says Islamabad MoU Opened Path to US-Iran De-Escalation
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: President Asif Ali Zardari has said the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran opened a path toward de-escalation and a negotiated settlement, as he renewed Pakistan’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve international disputes.
In a message marking the International Day of Peace on September 21, Zardari said lasting peace could only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law. He cited Pakistan’s involvement in diplomatic efforts surrounding the US-Iran conflict as an example of Islamabad’s approach to peaceful dispute resolution.
The president said the Islamabad MoU opened a path toward de-escalation and a negotiated settlement, while subsequent high-level discussions at Bürgenstock, Switzerland, focused on implementing the understanding.
Pakistan, he said, remains engaged in efforts to sustain dialogue and achieve durable peace for the region and the wider international community.
The Islamabad MoU was signed by the United States and Iran in June following months of conflict and intensive diplomatic engagement. At the time, Zardari welcomed the agreement and described it as an important development for regional and international stability. The presidency credited senior Pakistani officials with contributing to the diplomatic process.
Implementation of the agreement has subsequently faced difficulties amid renewed tensions.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in July that negotiations remained underway, particularly over de-escalation and the Strait of Hormuz, and that Islamabad was working to bring the parties back to the framework established by the Islamabad MoU.
The framework continues to feature in current diplomatic contacts. Earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi agreed that implementing the Islamabad MoU remained the preferred route for reducing tensions, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Iran has also continued to refer to the agreement. An Iranian Interior Ministry spokesperson said on September 19 that diplomatic mediation aimed at returning to the Islamabad agreement was ongoing, while maintaining Tehran’s position that the other side must fulfil its commitments.
In his Peace Day message, Zardari also referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2788, sponsored by Pakistan during its presidency of the council, saying its unanimous adoption reaffirmed support for mechanisms designed to settle disputes peacefully.
The president further reiterated Pakistan’s positions on Palestine and Kashmir, arguing that durable peace requires respect for self-determination and implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions. These statements reflect Pakistan’s longstanding official diplomatic positions on the two disputes.
Zardari called on the international community to uphold the UN Charter and international law and to support continued de-escalation efforts in West Asia and elsewhere.
His remarks come as diplomatic efforts continue to address unresolved disagreements surrounding the US-Iran confrontation and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has recently linked reopening the strategic waterway to what it describes as US compliance with commitments under the Islamabad MoU.
