Pakistan Urges US, Iran to Halt Escalation as Peace Deal Falters Amid Renewed Violence

Pakistan has called on the United States and Iran to halt escalating violence and return to the negotiation table, as a fragile peace deal brokered by Islamabad last month faces severe challenges. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday urged both nations to resume technical-level talks under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed in June 2026 to end the ongoing 2026 Iran war and secure maritime passages. However, recent days have seen a dramatic resurgence of hostilities, casting serious doubt on the MoU's viability. The interim agreement, signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, aimed to establish a 60-day window for further negotiations and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz. But since early July, US forces have intensified strikes on Iranian military targets, while Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks on US facilities in allied nations like Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. This renewed conflict has led to significant casualties, with Iran reporting over 30 deaths and 300 injuries, and has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil and gas shipments, causing energy prices to surge worldwide. With Pakistan reaffirming its commitment to diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar have been actively engaging regional leaders to de-escalate the crisis. However, the US has already declared the initial ceasefire 'over', and Iran has formally accused Washington of violating nearly all aspects of the MoU, even appealing to the United Nations Security Council. The coming weeks will determine if this renewed push for dialogue can pull the two powers back from the brink, or if the region is destined for further instability and economic disruption.