PM Shehbaz hails Saudi Arabia’s ‘restraint’, stresses urgent need for de-escalation of ongoing Iran war

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said he had hailed Saudi Arabia for showing “restraint” during the ongoing Middle East hostilities and stressed the need for urgent de-escalation.

He made the remarks during a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, wherein the two discussed Iran’s retaliatory attacks sparked by the US-Israel military actions on February 28.

“Spoke with my dear brother His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to convey warm Eidul Fitr greetings to The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Royal Family and the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X.

He “reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times”.

The premier added: “Appreciating the Kingdom’s restraint, I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation, an end to hostilities, and unity in the ranks of the Ummah.”

PM Shehbaz said he briefed the Saudi crown prince on “Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts for regional peace and stability”. “We agreed to remain in close coordination,” he added.

Gulf countries — including Saudi Arabia — are facing Iranian attacks, which Tehran says are aimed at US and Israeli sites in response to the latter’s deadly large-scale strikes.

The conversation between the prime minister and the Saudi crown prince comes amid Pakistan’s intensified efforts to act as a mediator between the United States and Iran to end the ongoing war that has engulfed the Middle East.

On Tuesday, a day after a proposal was floated to hold Iran-US talks in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally pitched the federal capital as a potential venue for negotiations between Iranian and US officials.

The move followed reports that Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt had talked the US out of attacking Iranian energy infrastructure — a move that many fear would mark a dangerous escalation in the already-deadly conflict raging in West Asia.

On March 9, PM Shehbaz held a “restricted meeting” with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a statement by the PM’s spokesperson.

During the meeting, the prime minister expressed Pakistan’s “full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in these challenging times”, and both leaders agreed to work together for regional peace and stability.