Says agreement was structured in two phases, with three issues in second phase having 'been a source of real problem'
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday tabled thethree-page US-Iran agreementin the National Assembly, saying phase two would involve technical discussions on nuclear matters, sanctions. frozen assets, and Lebanon.
While addressing the National Assembly (NA) session, Dar said placing it on record alongside the June 22 joint communique issued by the United States, Iran, Qatar,. Pakistan, saying the document had been "considerably misunderstood" and misquoted.
"It is the right of both Houses that I place this on the record of this assembly. so that if any colleague wishes to see this document, take a copy, or quote it, there is no misunderstanding," he said.
He added that every page of the agreement carried initials. the third page bore full signatures, and that the foreign office had also uploaded the communiqué to its website.
"All agreed to it,. its copy was also placed by our foreign office on their website, so that colleagues who need to see what the outcome was, whatthe roadmapis, how to move forward, I will also place the copy, the one issued by all four countries from Switzerland on June 22, on the record for the foreign office, so that any member of the NA or Senate may see it," he said.
Giving the house a detailed account of how the agreement came together, Dar said the breakthrough came after a21-hour negotiating sessionon April 10. 11. The session ran through six rounds, with breaks taken not for rest but for consultation, continuing until Fajr, Dar said. "I pay tribute to both parties," he added. noting that they had agreed to sit at the same table on the condition that Pakistan, their mutually chosen mediator, also be present.
Read:Islamabad MoU, Switzerland talks reinforce faith in dialogue, diplomacy: FO
The foreign minister said that the US delegation comprised Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Iran was represented by its Senior Speaker, Bagher Ghalibaf and two other senior officials, including a National Security Council secretary.
"Pakistan's delegation was led by me, alongside the Chief of Army Staff. Chief of Defence ForcesField Marshal Asim Munirand the DG ISI," he said.
However. after those talks stalled — with both sides needing to refer back to their respective leaderships — Dar said serious apprehensions emerged over the following weeks that the process might not reach a conclusion.
He credited the PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir,. the foreign office for persisting despite the apprehensions, saying, "They did not give up. Hope was not given up."
Further, Dar noted that aregional forumcomprising Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt,. Turkiye also became "proactively engaged", holding meetings in Riyadh on March 19, then in Antalya, in Islamabad on March 29, and most recently in Egypt.
Regarding the agreement itself. Dar revealed that it was originally to be signed physically in Geneva on June 19 at the Intercontinental hotel, with arrangements already in place. However. on the night of June 18, a sudden development changed the sequence.President Trump, in France for the G7 summit, decided to sign electronically on the sidelines of the forum. The document was then transmitted to Iran, and President Pezeshkian signed it.PM Shehbaz then signed as mediatoron Pakistan's behalf.
"The physical ceremony was subsequentlyrelocated to Burgenstockin Switzerland, held at a property owned by the Qatar Investment Authority at the request of the US. Qatar. Parleys there on Sunday and Monday, involving all four parties, produced the June 22 joint communique," Dar said.
He also mentioned that Pakistan ensured discretion during the entire process, saying, "As a true. honest mediator, we were a trusted party, we treated this as a matter of trust, we did not lean toward one side or the other, we did not allow anything to become public."
Regarding the foreign office. Dar said, "When they said to me ', give us a copy of the latest draft,' I said, 'until both parties give permission, you cannot share Pakistan's document.'"
Dar said the agreement was structured in two phases. The first phase, aimed at resolution, had already produced visible consequences. He noted that for approximately three weeks. the government had absorbed rising fuel prices rather than passing them on, with special instructions issued to the finance ministry. After three weeks, the prices began to be passed on,. four chief ministers were called to decide on a special subsidy for public transport in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said phase two would involve technical discussions on three issues: nuclear matters, sanctions. frozen assets, and Lebanon, which he said had "been a source of real problem." He noted that Israel attacked Lebanon again just as the agreement was nearly finalised, delaying negotiations by two days before a fresh Lebanon-Israel ceasefire allowed the process to resume.
On the economic impact, Dar said prices had alreadycome down, the US naval blockade had ended,. Iran had removed all fees, additional charges, permits, and permissions.
Read More:Iran rules out compromise on missile capability
Turning to Pakistan's broaderdiplomatic standing, Dar told the house that at a recent diplomatic forum, the US had officially stated that "Pakistan has become, by the role it has performed in this US-Iran dispute, something unimaginable,. Pakistan has become a net security provider to this region."
He said this was a country that only a few years ago had been called diplomatically isolated,. that today "Pakistan has become what used to be called a terrorist country, today it is being remembered as a peacemaker."
On China, Dar said, "I will be failing in my duty if I don't recognise the role of China." On March 31, China's foreign minister invited him for a one-day visit during which Pakistan. China jointly announced afive-point peace initiativecalling for theStrait of Hormuzto be kept free from any tolls or restrictions and restored to its pre-28 February status. The announcement drew calls from foreign ministers across multiple capitals. "I received dozens of calls from foreign ministers in various capitals. Europe supported it," Dar said.
Throughout the process. according to the foreign minister, Pakistan had maintained strict neutrality as mediator, refusing to share documents even with close allies. "Even Saudi Arabia, who were particularly involved, we did not give it to them either," he said. Dar also referenced the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed with Saudi Arabia in September 2025. saying Pakistan had kept Iran informed of the sovereign pact throughout.
The foreign minister also noted that Iran had conveyed to Pakistan that "when difficult times came, we saw what a friend is,. Pakistan fulfilled the obligations of friendship." He concluded his remarks by saying the credit belonged to PM Shehbaz's leadership, Field Marshal Munir, and the Foreign Ministry, but that the ultimate success was God's.
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see ourComments FAQ
Discussion
Sign in to join the thread, react, and share images.