Islamabad ,(Parliament Times): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate on Tuesday that Iran had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons, while the United States was demanding the complete dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Briefing the upper house on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach following the recent strikes on Iran, Dar said he had conveyed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Tehran was willing to forgo nuclear weapons, but Washington was insisting on shutting down Iran’s entire nuclear infrastructure.
The Middle East crisis intensified after Israel launched attacks on Iran, followed by Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting what Tehran described as US interests and bases across Gulf states.
During the four-day escalation, several senior Iranian figures were killed in airstrikes attributed to Israel and the United States, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian authorities termed the strikes “unprovoked and unwarranted,” warning that the killing marked a critical turning point, with the Revolutionary Guard vowing retaliation.
Addressing senators, Dar said Pakistan had consistently upheld Iran’s right to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme. He noted that Islamabad was ready to facilitate dialogue between Tehran and Washington, potentially hosting talks in Islamabad. He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir for playing an active and constructive role in diplomatic and defence-level engagements.
Dar said he immediately contacted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to condemn the attacks and conveyed condolences on behalf of Pakistan’s government and people over the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei.
He informed the Senate that he had also spoken with the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Maldives, Bangladesh, Iran, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman to coordinate diplomatic efforts. According to Dar, Oman’s foreign minister indicated that progress had been made in Iran-US negotiations prior to the strikes.
Describing Iran as a brotherly and neighbouring country, Dar said Pakistan had undertaken extensive diplomatic initiatives, including back-channel contacts, to prevent further escalation. He recalled that when Pakistan held the presidency of the UN Security Council, it convened multiple discussions on related issues.
He compared the latest escalation to tensions last June, noting that during a previous crisis, Gen Asim Munir had held consultations in Istanbul at Iran’s request, urging diplomacy and restraint.
Dar emphasised that Pakistan stood by Iran while also seeking to prevent the conflict from widening. He said Islamabad condemned the strikes within 15 minutes despite external pressures. However, he cautioned that Pakistan must not be drawn into the broader conflict, particularly after attacks reportedly targeted Gulf states and US bases.
He revealed that a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister decided that Pakistan would continue efforts to de-escalate tensions. Several international counterparts, he added, believed that with patience, regional dialogue could have been achieved.
Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s strategic agreement with Saudi Arabia and ongoing communication with Iranian leadership.
Evacuations and Regional Assurances
The foreign minister said Iran had sought assurances that neighbouring territories would not be used against it, and Pakistan conveyed such assurances. He added that Saudi Arabia had provided similar guarantees, with Islamabad facilitating communication.
Providing an update on Pakistani nationals in Iran, Dar said around 35,000 Pakistanis were currently there. The Taftan-Zahedan border crossing remains open, and 792 citizens have so far been evacuated by road, as airspace remains closed.
He assured the Senate that the government was fulfilling its responsibility to safeguard Pakistani citizens and would provide a detailed briefing to parliamentary leaders the following day. Operational matters related to Afghanistan, he said, would be addressed separately.
Calling the situation highly challenging, Dar said the region was facing near-conflict conditions but reiterated that Pakistan remained fully engaged in diplomatic efforts to restore stability.