Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi launched a round of telephone diplomacy on Monday, briefing key regional counterparts on the contours of a newly reached understanding with the United States and demanding that Washington guarantee an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. The calls came hours after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that Washington and Tehran had concluded a “peace agreement” in Islamabad, ending all military operations in the Middle East with immediate effect, including in Lebanon. Araghchi’s message, delivered separately to the foreign ministers of Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, was consistent: the United States bore full responsibility for implementing the accord, and a complete cessation of what Tehran termed “Zionist aggression” against Lebanon was non-negotiable.

The Iranian minister expressed gratitude to Ankara, Baghdad and Cairo for their diplomatic efforts in support of a ceasefire, de-escalation and regional stability, according to official Iranian readouts. In a separate call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Araghchi outlined the provisions of the memorandum of understanding and thanked Riyadh for its role in the broader diplomatic process aimed at ending what he described as the “US-Israeli war” against Iran and strengthening regional security. Both sides agreed to maintain close consultations and diplomatic cooperation. Viewed from Gulf capitals, the Saudi engagement signals a continued, if cautious, alignment with channels that include Iran, despite deep-seated rivalries, and underscores Riyadh’s preference for managed dialogue over open confrontation.

The framework, reached after three and a half months of hostilities that began with a US-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic and spread to multiple theatres, notably Lebanon, was brokered in the Pakistani capital. While the Pakistani premier’s statement framed the deal as a comprehensive peace pact, Iranian officials focused more narrowly on the Lebanese front and the US obligation to enforce it. Analysts in London note that this selective emphasis may reflect Tehran’s desire to test Washington’s follow-through on a specific, verifiable commitment before endorsing broader claims of a region-wide cessation. The insistence on US responsibility also serves to bind Washington publicly to the terms, reducing the room for ambiguity over Israel’s next moves.

The flurry of calls suggests Iran is moving swiftly to consolidate a regional consensus around the Islamabad understanding, leveraging its diplomatic ties with Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to lock in political support. The coming days will reveal whether the framework can translate into a durable halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanese soil—a critical early indicator of the agreement’s viability. For now, the choreography points to a fragile but potentially significant pivot away from open conflict, with Pakistan’s mediation role adding an unexpected layer to the Middle East’s diplomatic architecture.