European Union leaders praise Pakistan’s mediation efforts between US and Iran

European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula

NEW YORK, Sept 24:  European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran, as international efforts to de-escalate the conflict and revive negotiations intensified on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.

Costa and von der Leyen met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York on Wednesday to discuss regional and global developments, according to a statement from the Pakistani prime minister’s office.

“We work together on stability and security. We thanked the Prime Minister for his initiative to mediate in the conflict between the US and Iran,” the two EU leaders said in separate but identical statements posted on X.

They said Pakistan was playing “an important role in support of de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.”

Sharif, Costa and von der Leyen also “reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” according to the Pakistani statement.

Islamabad has taken a mediating role between Washington and Tehran since the United States and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran in February.

The meeting also covered the full range of Pakistan-EU relations. Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening its broad-based partnership with the European Union and implementing the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.

“The EU values its partnership with Pakistan. Our Strategic Engagement Plan reflects both the breadth of this partnership and the shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, human rights and civic space,” Costa and von der Leyen said.