Pakistan to host Geneva ceremony for US-Iran peace accord: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday told the lower house that Pakistan will host the ceremony of the signing of the peace agreement between the United States and Iran in Geneva, Switzerland, later this week.

The development comes as United States and Iran have reached a deal to end their war and will hold an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland.

The agreement was struck despite an Israeli strike on Lebanon on Sunday that drew criticism from both Iran and US President Donald Trump.

The precise terms of the deal were not immediately known. PM Shehbaz said on social media early on Monday that the pact called for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.

Addressing a session of the National Assembly, PM Shehbaz said that the world had crossed a historic milestone for peace. “After three months and 16 days of immense trials and challenges, a significant agreement has been reached under which an immediate end to hostilities on all military fronts have been announced,” he added.

The prime minister informed the House that the formal ceremony for this historic agreement would be held in Geneva on June 19, with Pakistan serving as the host. He remarked that after the dark night of war, the sun of peace was beginning to rise.

Shehbaz congratulated the people of Pakistan and the international community on this development. He also thanked all members of the House and leaders of political parties, saying their guidance had remained with him throughout the process.

The prime minister specifically expressed gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Aleem Khan, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Khalid Magsi.

He said the agreement was not merely a pact between two countries but a victory for peace and dialogue. Shehbaz also congratulated US President Donald Trump, the Iran’s Supreme Leader, and the Iranian president, while paying tribute to the Emir of Qatar and the Saudi crown prince as well.

According to the prime minister, the presidents of Türkiye and China, along with other brotherly and European countries, should also be thanked for their support. “Everyone should to bow in gratitude before Allah, saying that a great success had been achieved through divine blessing,” he urged.

He stated that the government’s sincere efforts for peace had succeeded and that the nation had long yearned for such an achievement. The flames of war had begun to subside, he added.

Without naming Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, the prime minister said that his role in establishing peace had been extremely important and decisive, noting that he had dedicated himself to the process day and night. He said the negotiations experienced many ups and downs, and at times it seemed the process might stall, but sincerity and wisdom ultimately turned the dream of peace into reality.

Congratulating Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Shehbaz said he had played a vital role in advancing peace efforts. The prime minister also praised Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, saying he remained in constant contact with the Iranian side.

The premier welcomed the Iranian ambassador to the House and expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials.

He said the entire nation had stood united like a wall of steel, while the devastating effects of the war had impacted the whole world. “The situation had also put pressure on Pakistan’s economy, but the nation had fully supported the government’s efforts toward economic recovery and shielding the public from the severity of inflation,” he said.

In the end, the prime minister saluted the federal and provincial leadership as well as the entire nation, saying that the achievement was the result of collective effort and national unity.