Pakistan's role for regional peace is crucial: Iranian Envoy.

Islamabad -- Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan Seyyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini has said that tensions in the Middle East continue unabated and called for renewal of peace efforts.

While delivering a lecture at Islamabad Policy Institute (IPI),here on Thursday , the ambassador said that Pakistan has a vital role for maintenance of regional peace and stability. He welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan's efforts for de-escalation of tensions in the region.

"There are clear signs of the fact that the regional circumstances are not improving, the tense situation was a result of external interference in the region, misperceptions, and miscalculations. This cognitive impairment and miscalculations resulted in current crisis in the region,' he added.

The situation, he said, had been exacerbated by lack of dialogue and absence of a structured engagement in the region.

'What the region needs more than ever, is an across the board and comprehensive dialogue,' Ambassador Hosseini said. He recalled that Iran's President Mr Hasan Rouhani had last year (2019)

proposed a regional cooperation mechanism called Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) for durable

peace throughout the region. The plan, he said, envisaged countering sectarian strife and tackling

current conflicts in peaceful manner through dialogue and cooperation. He said 'HOPE' could help

eliminate terrorism and extremism; realize vision of security for all; ensure respect for sovereignty of

the countries and their integrity; contain threats and violence; and end external inferences in internal

affairs of the countries in the region.

'Iran wants solutions and all the regional countries should be the axis of peaceful and diplomatic

solutions' for the various conflicts afflicting the region, he said. Ambassador Hosseini said Iran believes in 'security for all', but for realization of the vision of an all- encompassing peace, all sides will have to take 'clear steps'. Iran on its part, he said, was ready for dialogue with Riyadh. 'Although there has been no positive response from Saudi Arabia as yet, but we have not lost hope,' he stated.

He said that Tehran sees...