New Zealand welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, urges continued efforts for lasting peace

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Wednesday welcomed a two-week ceasefire deal between the US and Iran while emphasizing that significant work remains to secure a durable resolution.

"While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire," Peters said on the US social media company X’s platform.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he agreed "to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a key role in brokering the ceasefire, announced on X that he has invited Iranian and US delegations to convene in Islamabad on Friday.

Peters praised the mediation efforts of Pakistan along with other regional partners including Türkiye and Egypt for their work in seeking a solution to the crisis.

Earlier, he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC to discuss their countries’ bilateral relationship, the ongoing conflict in Iran, and cooperation on critical minerals supply chains.

"As we discussed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio today, this conflict has had wide-ranging impacts and disruptions - for both those in the Middle East and further afield, including in New Zealand and the Pacific region," Peters said.

New Zealand will stand in support of all efforts to bring about a "lasting, durable end" to this conflict, he added.