Islamabad: EU Council President Antonio Costa stated on Monday that the European Union is prepared to provide support for Middle East peace talks during a phone conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The discussion focused on the current situation in the Middle East, as reported by Sharif's office in a statement.
According to Anadolu Agency, Prime Minister Sharif informed Costa about the latest developments in Pakistan's diplomatic initiatives and peace efforts. Costa acknowledged Islamabad's constructive role in promoting dialogue and stability in the region, emphasizing the EU's readiness to support this process in every possible manner. Both leaders underscored the importance of ongoing dialogue and diplomacy to ensure lasting regional and global security.
Costa also mentioned in a social media post that the international community is observing with great expectation the upcoming meeting between Washington and Tehran, which he suggested should occur in Islamabad at the earliest opportunity. He expressed optimism that a resolution could be achieved to end the conflict and facilitate the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The EU, he asserted, supports all ongoing efforts toward peace in the Middle East.
The phone call between Costa and Sharif aligns with ongoing efforts to organize a second round of talks between the US and Iran, anticipated to happen soon in the Pakistani capital. Pakistan previously hosted the first round of US-Iran talks between April 11 and 12, following its successful brokering of a two-week ceasefire on April 8, which is due to expire by dawn on Wednesday. Pakistani sources have indicated that Iranian officials are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday.
