ISLAMABAD: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday confirmed Tehran’s participation in Pakistan-offered peace talks with the United States in Islamabad on Friday to finalise a peaceful settlement to their conflict, Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
During a warm and cordial telephonic conversation that lasted for over 45 minutes, President Pezeshkian thanked PM Sharif and appreciated the efforts of the Pakistani leadership to bring about a temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US, according to the statement issued by the PM Office.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed appreciation for the Iranian leadership’s decision to agree to a ceasefire and accept Pakistan’s offer to host negotiations between Iran and the US in Islamabad later this week. He also conveyed his respects to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
President Pezeshkian conveyed his best wishes for the people of Pakistan and confirmed that Iran would be participating in the negotiations in Islamabad.
Both leaders also agreed to remain in close contact, according to the PM Office statement.
Prime Minister Sharif also posted on X about his phone call with President Pezeshkian.
I had a warm and substantive conversation with President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, this afternoon.
I conveyed my deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in accepting Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 8, 2026
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance said that President Trump has instructed the entire US negotiation team to go and work in good faith to come to an agreement.
“The president of the United States has told me, and he’s told the entire negotiating team … go and work in good faith to come to an agreement,” Vance said during a visit to Hungary.
“That is what he has told us to do. If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, I think we can make an agreement.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Sharif said that the US, its allies, and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire “everywhere”, including Lebanon, following Pakistan’s mediation to stop weeks of fighting.
“I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY,” Sharif posted on X.
With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
I warmly welcome the…— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 7, 2026
He added that Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, would welcome delegations from both countries on Friday to hold negotiations aimed at reaching a “conclusive agreement”.
“We earnestly hope that the ‘Islamabad Talks’ succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in the coming days,” he said.
Both Tehran and Washington announced they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.
Accepting Pakistan’s suggestion of a two-week ceasefire, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of military action against Iran following discussions with Pakistan’s leadership.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF IRAN: pic.twitter.com/IZ9qoGpgK8
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2026
Trump said that after speaking with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, he agreed to pause planned strikes, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz “completely, immediately, and safely”.
“I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided ceasefire!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
He added that US military objectives had already been achieved and that the pause would allow both sides to finalise a comprehensive agreement.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 7, 2026
Earlier, Trump had set an 8:00 pm Eastern Time (0000 GMT Wednesday) deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of oil and gas. He warned that failure to comply would result in devastating consequences, saying “a whole civilisation will die tonight”.
Sharif, in a post on X, had urged both sides to observe a two-week ceasefire to “allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war”.
Trump also confirmed that Washington had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran, describing it as a “workable basis” for negotiations.
“Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the agreement to be finalised and consummated,” he said.
