He says that he will work seriously and thoroughly together with partners to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photo: APP/File
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday urged all parties to exercise restraint and give peace a better chance after Iran and Israel exchanged a new round of missiles.
The statement came after Iran and Israel exchanged attacks on Sunday for the first time after the truce announced on April 8. US President Donald Trump urged both Iran and Israel to show restraint.
In a statement posted on his
“As we work seriously and thoroughly, together with our brothers and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially as the ultimate goal is about to be achieved, we sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz further urged all parties to stay on the path of peace and diplomacy, which he said had bright prospects of success, instead of violence and destruction.
The recent rise in violence in the Middle East is a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and the unbearable consequences it can have. As we work seriously and thoroughly, together with our brothers and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution…
– Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 8, 2026
Iran fired a volley of missiles at Israeli targets in retaliation for an attack on the outskirts of Beirut. Tehran has long said that any peace deal with the United States would depend on a ceasefire also holding in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March in search of Hezbollah fighters who fired rockets and drones across the border in solidarity with Tehran.
Iran blames the United States for the latest exchanges of fire with Israel and said the exchanges of fire would only worsen an already “chaotic diplomatic process” with the United States. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Israel’s actions in Lebanon, whether carried out with the knowledge and consent of the United States or not, were aimed at sabotaging diplomacy.
Pakistan emerged as a central facilitator in the delicate diplomatic track, positioning itself as an “honest broker” amid sharply polarized positions between Washington and Tehran.
The war began in February 2026, when US and Israeli attacks targeted Iranian military infrastructure. Iran retaliated across the region and closed the Strait of Hormuz, causing a global energy crisis. In early April, Trump was threatening to completely destroy Iranian civilization, with deadlines set for March 21, then March 23, then April 7, as diplomats scrambled for a chance.
Pakistan provided that opportunity. On April 8, Islamabad negotiated a two-week conditional ceasefire. Trump confirmed this himself, naming Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the Pakistanis who had persuaded him to resign. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was equally warm and publicly appreciated Pakistan’s tireless efforts on behalf of the Islamic Republic.
Once a ceasefire was established, Pakistan moved quickly to host formal negotiations. On April 11 and 12, delegations from the United States and Iran met at the Islamabad Serena Hotel.
The American team was led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Witkoff and Kushner; Iran sent a delegation led by Parliament Speaker Qalibaf.
The talks lasted 21 hours and, while both sides reported progress on most points, two issues proved intractable: the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. No agreement was reached. No memorandum was signed.
