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Shehbaz Sharif told Parliament that the US-Iran Islamabad MoU could become a lasting agreement within 60 days. His remarks underlined Pakistan's mediator role even as the session turned tense over judiciary concerns and the budget vote.
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Islamabad,UPDATED: Jun 23, 2026 16:22 IST
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said he hoped the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by the US and Iran would become a lasting agreement. Addressing parliament, he said he hoped it would lead to peace, as the Assembly later passed the budget for 2026-27 despite opposition from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Sharif said recent high-level talks between the US and Iran under the MoU framework had continued into Monday at Burgenstock in Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar acting as mediators. He also said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was visiting Pakistan for talks on bilateral and regional issues, while the session also saw opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai walk out and later accuse the government of weakening the judiciary.
The US and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday to restore peace in West Asia and advance negotiations on regional security and other contentious issues. Sharif told parliament, "We fully hope that the MoU will turn into a long-lasting agreement over the next 60 days, leading to peace in the world."
He said the talks at Burgenstock began on Sunday and went on past midnight into Monday. According to Sharif, the US and Iranian delegations discussed difficult issues, with Pakistan and Qatar taking part as mediators.
Sharif said technical-level talks between the US and Iran would be held over the next 60 days and would cover Iran's nuclear assets, ballistic missiles and frozen assets. He said, "Pakistan tried its best, with complete sincerity, to bridge the distance between the two sides," and added that a joint statement was issued by the mediators in the early hours of Monday.
He also congratulated parliament and the nation on Pakistan's "key" and "historic" role in mediating between the US and Iran. Sharif said Pezeshkian was visiting Pakistan for discussions on bilateral and regional issues. This is Pezeshkian's second visit to Pakistan as President of Iran. He is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold talks with Sharif. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the Senate chairman and the Assembly Speaker will also meet him.
During his address, Sharif also criticised Achakzai over his decision to boycott the speech and said it was not because of mutual differences. Achakzai walked out after accusing the government of failing to uphold the Constitution by reducing the powers of the judiciary. He later wrote on X, "We have taken an oath to protect the Constitution of Pakistan. You have supported undemocratic forces in trampling the Constitution; through your vote, you have clipped the wings of the judiciary."
The Assembly later passed the budget after Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb moved the bill to approve the proposals for the next fiscal year. On June 12, the federal government had presented a budget of about Rs 18,771 billion for the next fiscal year, including Rs 3,000 billion set aside for defence.
In sum, Sharif used his address to voice hope over the US-Iran MoU, outline Pakistan's mediating role and announce Pezeshkian's visit, while parliament passed the budget and the session was marked by Achakzai's protest over the judiciary and the Constitution.
With PTI Inputs
- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jun 23, 2026 16:22 IST
