United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said lasting peace could not be achieved in the Middle East without recognizing the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. Guterres spoke at a joint press conference in Islamabad after meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar during his official visit to Pakistan.
“End the conflict and return to diplomacy”
Addressing the United States and Iran, Guterres called on all parties to “end the conflict, return to diplomacy and restore navigation rights in accordance with international law.” Guterres praised Pakistan’s mediation efforts, saying the initiatives had contributed to the Islamabad Agreement and the framework for subsequent negotiations.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Dar said his country had assumed a “proactive and constructive” role in promoting dialogue and reducing tensions in the Gulf, adding that Pakistan advocated cooperation instead of conflict and peaceful solutions instead of the use of force.
The Strait of Hormuz deadlock in negotiations
After the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Iran targeted Israel and U.S. positions in the region, and the parties reached a ceasefire in April. Although the United States and Iran signed an agreement in mid-June, negotiations stalled over a dispute regarding navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments.