Iranian Media Rejects PM Sharif's Missile Claims, Says Pak Plays No Significant Role In Negotiation

Last Updated:June 23, 2026, 22:25 IST

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were in Pakistan, which acts as a mediator in talks between Tehran and Washington.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks regarding Iran-US negotiations are “completely mistaken" and likely stem from a lack of information, Iranian state media has said, rejecting Islamabad’s claims of playing a “significant" mediatory role.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, officials involved in the negotiations have stressed that the issue of missiles is not on the agenda of talks. The text of the recently published Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) clearly shows that such matters are not under discussion.

Sources quoted by Fars News Agency said Pakistan currently plays no significant role in mediating between Tehran and Washington and that Sharif’s statements appear aimed at amplifying Islamabad’s intermediary role.

The report said Qatar, and not Pakistan, is playing the most effective role in facilitating contacts between the two sides.

According to top Indian intelligence sources, Iranian officials view Pakistan’s mediation efforts as lacking neutrality because of Islamabad’s close strategic and defence ties with Saudi Arabia.

“Due to Pakistan’s close strategic and defence ties with Saudi Arabia, including a mutual defence pact, Tehran sees Islamabad as favouring Sunni Gulf interests over Iran’s security concerns. This is leading to distrust in Pakistan-brokered arrangements," sources said.

The sources further said that Iran has rejected Pakistan’s attempts to project itself as a key intermediary.

Reports indicate that Pakistan is neither a key signatory nor an effective player in recent understandings between Iran and the US, with Qatar emerging as a more trusted and reliable channel for engagement.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were in Pakistan, which acts as a mediator in talks between Tehran and Washington.

They met with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The Iranian President also appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating the negotiations and reaching the memorandum of understanding.

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Saurabh VermaSenior Sub-editor

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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