Nawaz Sharif: Tehran and Riyadh Welcome Pakistan's Mediation

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, during his visit to Riyadh and Tehran aimed at mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia, stated that both countries welcomed this initiative. On January 19, during a meeting with Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, Nawaz Sharif proposed mediation to reduce tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Pakistani media reported on January 20 that he said, "Leaders of both countries appreciated our efforts to reduce tensions. I have received a positive response and am deeply encouraged. This is a sacred duty." According to the Pakistani newspaper 'Dawn', he mentioned this in discussions with journalists in Iran. In addition to his meeting with Hassan Rouhani, Nawaz Sharif also met with Eshaq Jahangiri, the Vice President, and Hossein Dehghan, the Minister of Defense of Iran, while Pakistan's Minister of Defense, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, met with Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Mr. Sharif stated that the next step is for Iran and Pakistan to appoint "special representatives" to follow up on the mediation process. He also requested Riyadh to nominate someone for this task. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, following his visits to Riyadh and Tehran, stated that neither side desires tension. Pakistan's efforts come at a time when Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, recently stated in an article in the New York Times that his country has been a victim of terrorism from Iranian supporters. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, previously wrote in the same newspaper that Saudi Arabia seeks to disrupt the nuclear agreement and escalate tensions in the region. The latest tensions in the tumultuous relations between Riyadh and Tehran have escalated following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and attacks on its diplomatic missions in Iran. In this context, Nawaz Sharif's proposal for mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia is significant.