In Islamabad, US Vice President JD Vance stated on Monday that Pakistan is actively participating in the diplomatic preparations for the release of the US‑Iran peace agreement, providing new insight into Islamabad’s role in easing the long‑standing tensions between the two nations.
His remarks followed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement that Pakistan will host the formal signing ceremony of the agreement in Geneva, and after China commended Islamabad for fostering dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistani officials assert that the country has served as a crucial intermediary, transmitting messages and proposals between Washington and Tehran as both sides pursued an end to the conflict that began in February.
In an interview with Fox News, Vance addressed why the memorandum of understanding ending the conflict had not yet been made public.
“There are diplomatic protocols and a specific sequencing that the Pakistanis — along with the Qataris — have been involved in,” Vance told Fox News.
“The president says the agreement will be released on Friday,” he added. “He may opt to release it earlier, but the formal ceremony scheduled for Friday is when the president intends to make the announcement.”
President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have both affirmed that the agreement will be formally signed in Geneva on Friday.
Trump has said the accord will permanently halt military operations between the United States and Iran, whereas Iranian officials characterize it as a framework for broader negotiations toward a final settlement.
The state‑run Associated Press of Pakistan reports that China has reiterated its appreciation for Pakistan’s role in the process.
China’s foreign ministry said it welcomed Pakistan’s “initiative and sense of responsibility” in promoting peace and ending hostilities, noting its important role in facilitating US‑Iran negotiations.
Pakistan hosted the first round of direct US‑Iran talks in Islamabad in April and has remained engaged with both governments throughout subsequent negotiations.
The conflict erupted in February after US and Israeli strikes on Iran sparked a broader regional war.
The fighting disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor that carries roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and gas, driving up global energy prices and raising inflation and supply‑chain concerns.
Trump said this week that shipping had resumed through the strait after the agreement, and Iranian and US officials indicated that a memorandum of understanding had already been signed electronically ahead of Friday’s formal ceremony.
The full text of the agreement has not yet been released, though both sides have indicated it covers maritime security and future negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program.