PM signs Islamabad MoU

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday electronically signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in his role as mediator, cementing a rare diplomatic breakthrough that formally establishes a peace agreement between Iran and the US after months of high-level backchannel negotiations. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the MoU was signed by the Prime Minister Sharif as mediator, while US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the document on behalf of their respective countries. In a series of posts on X, Prime Minister Sharif announced that the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” had been electronically signed by the two sides, marking an immediate set of initial steps under the agreement. READ MORE: Iran to ‘instantly’ reopen Hormuz, US to ‘immediately’ lift blockade: Pakistan PM He stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened instantly, while the US would lift its naval blockade as part of the first phase of implementation. “The memorandum has been signed by presidents of both countries and also endorsed by me as mediator. The signing at the highest level demonstrates the commitment of both sides to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, ” the prime minister wrote. He further added that the MoU would “enter into force with immediate effect, ” reiterating that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz without delay, while the US would simultaneously remove its naval blockade. The announcement was accompanied by congratulatory remarks from Prime Minister Sharif, who praised the diplomatic efforts that led to the breakthrough. He expressed appreciation for President Trump, noting his “steadfast commitment to diplomacy and preference for peaceful resolution, ” which, according to him, helped avert a conflict with potentially far-reaching consequences for the region and beyond. In an earlier post on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Sharif confirmed that both parties had signed the MoU electronically. He reiterated that the agreement reflected a shared commitment to resolving disputes through dialogue and negotiation at the highest political level. He also initially stated that Pakistan, with the support of Qatar, would host an official ceremony scheduled for June 19 in Switzerland, aimed at commemorating the agreement and initiating technical-level talks. However, this announcement was later followed by further posts on X from the prime minister, in which he extended congratulations and highlighted the contributions of key international and regional stakeholders involved in the diplomatic process. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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