Pakistan Briefs Saudi Arabia on Doha Mediation
Pakistan on Thursday briefed Saudi Arabia on the latest round of US-Iran peace mediation in Doha, with the two countries discussing progress in implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached last month to end the conflict between Washington and Tehran. The call between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan came hours after Pakistani and Qatari mediators announced “positive progress” in separate meetings with US and Iranian negotiators in Doha.
Background of the Mediation
Pakistan has kept Saudi Arabia informed throughout the mediation process, while also deploying troops to the Kingdom under a bilateral defense pact, according to a Reuters report earlier this year, after Iranian strikes in the neighborhood heightened regional tensions. “The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation today with His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Positive Progress Acknowledged
“The two leaders discussed the regional situation especially the recent round of mediations in Doha,” it said. “They expressed satisfaction on the positive progress made during this negotiation and hoped that the discussions would continue in [the] near future.” The foreign ministry said the Saudi foreign minister appreciated Pakistan’s “steadfast commitment” to implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, brokered by Islamabad before it was signed by top US and Iranian officials last month, and its continued efforts to advance dialogue and promote lasting peace in the region.
Details of the Islamabad MoU
The Islamabad MoU establishes a 60-day ceasefire between Iran and Israel and sets out a framework for negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a broader regional settlement. Since the US-Iran deal was signed, however, both sides have exchanged fire in the Gulf, highlighting the difficulty of turning the initial truce into a lasting settlement.
US and Iranian Statements
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that indirect talks with Iran in Qatar were making progress, offering a tentative sign that diplomacy was holding after recent regional tensions threatened efforts to end the war. Iranian officials also announced the talks had concluded and that the two sides had agreed to establish a communication channel to report and record violations of the interim negotiation framework. Pakistani and Qatari mediators said earlier on Thursday that the US-Iran talks would continue after funeral processions for Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which are due to begin on July 4 and conclude with his burial on July 9.
