Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on November 11 on the sidelines of the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye, as diplomatic efforts continue amid heightened tensions across the Middle East. Footage released by Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office shows the two leaders greeting each other with a handshake before sitting down for discussions. During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between Pakistan and Iran, emphasizing their shared history, culture and faith. They also agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors and maintain regular consultations to address common challenges. Sharif expressed deep concern over the prolonged regional conflict and stressed that dialogue, restraint, de-escalation and sustained diplomatic engagement were essential to achieving lasting peace. Iranian President Pezeshkian welcomed Pakistan’s diplomatic support and acknowledged Islamabad’s efforts to promote regional stability.

A central focus of the discussions was Pakistan’s continued effort to facilitate diplomacy between Iran and the United States, with Sharif emphasizing the importance of building on the understandings reached under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June 2026. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to play a constructive role in supporting regional peace and security, signaling Islamabad’s intention to remain engaged in efforts to reduce tensions. The meeting comes against the backdrop of months of confrontation between Washington and Tehran, which have raised concerns about wider instability and disruptions to regional security. Pakistan has sought to position itself as a diplomatic intermediary, maintaining communication with regional governments while encouraging negotiations rather than further military escalation. Both leaders agreed that closer coordination and continued consultations would be important in addressing shared challenges and supporting regional prosperity. Although no new agreement or specific diplomatic breakthrough was announced, the encounter underscored the importance both governments place on maintaining bilateral ties and keeping diplomatic channels open.