United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is on an official visit to Pakistan, issued a call regarding the conflict between the United States and Iran after meeting Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar in the capital, Islamabad.
The two officials held a joint news conference after the meeting. Guterres called on the United States and Iran to end the conflict, return to diplomacy and restore navigation rights in line with international law.
Guterres conveyed the following message to all parties: "End the conflict, return to diplomacy and restore navigation rights in line with international law."
Guterres praises Islamabad’s mediation efforts
Guterres praised the Pakistani government’s mediation initiatives. He said Pakistan’s efforts in the field of international peace and security had contributed to the signing of the Islamabad Accord and to establishing a framework for subsequent negotiations.
The United Nations secretary-general also addressed the Palestinian issue. Guterres said peace could not be achieved in the region without recognizing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
Pakistan supports dialogue in the Gulf
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar said his country was playing a "proactive and constructive" role in promoting dialogue and reducing tensions in the Gulf region.
Dar said Pakistan had adopted an approach that supports cooperation rather than conflict, dialogue rather than confrontation, and peaceful solutions rather than the use of force.
Dispute over the Strait of Hormuz
Thousands of people were killed after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, while Iran also carried out attacks against Israel and US positions in the region. The parties reached a ceasefire in April.
Later, the United States carried out attacks on sites in Iran, and the negotiation process between the two countries stalled. The United States and Iran signed an agreement in mid-June.
The deadlock in the negotiations stemmed from a dispute over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy and goods shipments.
