Pakistan Seals US-Iran Deal as Guarantor While Trump Warns of Renewed Bombings
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Shehbaz Sharif signed the Islamabad MoU as guarantor, backing a US-Iran peace deal aimed at ending months of conflict.
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, June 18: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which aims to end the war in the Middle East that began on February 28 this year. Pakistan played a key mediating role in the negotiations, with Sharif personally visiting Iran several times during the conflict. He signed the agreement as a guarantor, despite US President Donald J. Trump's warning that Washington could resume military action if Iran does not "behave."
The document had already been signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday. Following the signing, the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route, was reopened, while the United States lifted its naval blockade against Iran.
“Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as a guarantor. Signatures of US President Donald Trump and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian are present on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” Sharif's office said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The peace process was negotiated through mediators including Pakistan and Qatar, which initially secured a two-week ceasefire agreement on April 8. The ceasefire was subsequently extended until the completion of the negotiations.
Sharif hailed Trump and Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, for helping restore peace in West Asia. However, the durability of the peace remains uncertain.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Trump said: “It's a memorandum of understanding. And if I don't like it, we'll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head. If I don't like it, if they don't behave, we'll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head, OK?”
The agreement signed between the United States and Iran is an interim arrangement. Both sides have committed to negotiating and finalising a permanent deal within 60 days, with the deadline extendable by mutual consent.
According to the Islamabad MoU, Washington will begin removing its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments affecting the Islamic Republic of Iran. The United States has committed to fully ending the naval blockade within 30 days.
With the interim agreement now in place, the next 60 days are expected to be crucial in determining whether the breakthrough can evolve into a comprehensive and durable peace settlement.
