Shehbaz Sharif Mediates US-Iran Ceasefire at UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan is acting as a sincere and honest mediator to secure a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Speaking at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the 81st session of the General Assembly, Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad's determination to de-escalate the conflict in the Middle East.

Sharif referenced the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, which he previously signed alongside U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. While he noted that subsequent events became unpredictable, he stated that Pakistan remains completely focused on regional peace and stability.

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Pakistan's diplomatic initiative to support dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the dispute. On the sidelines of the assembly, Sharif also met with leaders from Syria, Kuwait, Kenya, Austria, Somalia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In separate discussions, Sharif met with Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates to coordinate on agricultural collaboration and public health, specifically polio eradication. He also attended a meeting on the Right to Development, where he argued that debt servicing currently limits the financial capacity of the developing world to prioritize social progress and human dignity.