Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told parliamentarians that Iran has agreed not to acquire nuclear weapons, while the United States is pushing for the complete dismantling of Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking during a briefing in the Senate, Dar said he had conveyed Iran’s position during discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing that Tehran had committed to not building nuclear arms but wanted to maintain its peaceful nuclear programme.
The deputy premier added that Pakistan supports Iran’s right to pursue civilian nuclear energy within international frameworks, while advocating diplomacy to ease tensions in the region.
Dar said Pakistan has been actively engaging regional and international partners following the recent escalation in the Middle East. He told lawmakers that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir played a “very active and positive role” in diplomatic and defence-level engagements aimed at reducing tensions.
Pakistan has also offered to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad, Dar said, adding that diplomatic contacts with several countries were ongoing to prevent further escalation.
The foreign minister further informed parliament that he had contacted Iran’s foreign minister after the recent strikes on Iranian territory and condemned the attacks. He said the Pakistani leadership conveyed condolences over the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the escalation.
Dar also briefed lawmakers on the safety of Pakistani citizens in Iran, saying that around 35,000 Pakistanis remain in the country, while hundreds have already been evacuated through land routes as regional airspace disruptions continue.
Pakistan, he said, will continue diplomatic engagement with regional states and global powers to help stabilize the situation.