Pakistan pressing US and Iran to return to negotiating table amid renewed strikes, UN envoy says

Pakistan is urging the United States and Iran to resume negotiations, despite renewed strikes and a failure to implement an agreement brokered by Islamabad, according to Pakistan's UN ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad. The tensions between Iran and the US have intensified following a period of relative calm and ongoing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan has been working as an intermediary in the conflict, collaborating with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, China, and Qatar.

Ahmad noted that there is a lack of trust and willingness to implement the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. He emphasized that Pakistan has maintained direct lines of communication with both Iran and the US at high levels during these challenging times. He expressed hope that both sides will reconsider and return to the negotiating table, as evidenced by Pakistan's previous successful mediation efforts, including the ceasefire announced in April following heavy fighting.

Regarding Gaza, Ahmad cautioned that Israeli policies in the occupied West Bank are jeopardizing the prospects of a two-state solution. He stressed that the international community and the UN must take a stronger stance, urging for more assertive measures to ensure the Palestinian aspirations for freedom and self-determination are respected, in accordance with international law and legitimacy.