Shehbaz phones Pezeshkian, promises support at every forum  

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called President Masoud Pezeshkian and promised that Pakistan would continue supporting Iran at every forum, including the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Countries.

The prime minister shared Pakistan’s stance on the Middle East situation with the Iranian president and stressed the need for restoring peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

Speaking on the occasion, Pezeshkian thanked Shehbaz for Pakistan’s unwavering support during the recent tensions and praised Islamabad for its role in pursuing peace in the region.

As the two leaders spoke to each other just hours after the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump between Iran and Israel, they highlighted the need for unity and close contacts among the Ummah.

Earlier on Monday before the Iran-Israel ceasefire, the National Security Committee had discussed the regional situation amid the Iran-Israel war and the US joining the war, with a warning that irresponsible acts could lead triggering a larger conflict.

The attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities are a violation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolutions, international laws and the UN Charter, said the NSC.

NO REGIME CHANGE

Also on Tuesday, Trump said he does not want to see “regime change” in Iran, which he said would lead to chaos.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to a NATO summit, Trump said Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon and that Russian President Vladimir Putin had called him and offered to help with Iran.

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“If there was, there was, but no I don’t want it. I’d like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible,” Trump said. “Regime change takes chaos, and ideally we don’t want to see so much chaos.”

CHINA AND IRAN

Separately, Chinese foreign minister told his Iranian counterpart on Tuesday that China supports Iran’s commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and security, and hopes a “real ceasefire” can be achieved on that basis.