The Congress on Thursday criticised the Centre following the signing of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, arguing that the pact's designation as the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" reflects Pakistan's growing regional influence and marks a setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy. The criticism came after US President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Iran that requires Tehran to dilute its highly enriched uranium stockpile while paving the way for the lifting of US-backed sanctions and the resumption of Iranian oil exports.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding had been officially released and described its naming as politically significant. In a post on X, he claimed the agreement underscored Pakistan's enhanced standing in regional and international affairs despite its previous diplomatic isolation following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Ramesh contrasted the current situation with the period after the attacks, when, according to him, Pakistan faced considerable international pressure. He said the naming of the agreement after Islamabad highlighted what he termed Pakistan's "new-found regional standing and global influence" and raised concerns about shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region.

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The Congress leader further argued that Pakistan's growing role in West Asia could have implications for India. He said the development represented a setback to both the "substance and style" of the Modi government's foreign policy, adding that Pakistan was becoming more deeply embedded in the geopolitical and security architecture of the region.

At the same time, Ramesh described the agreement itself as a significant diplomatic development. He said that if implemented in both letter and spirit, the memorandum could represent a major step forward in easing tensions and advancing stability. However, he cautioned that the agreement also carried risks and could eventually become a "Memorandum of Misunderstanding" if either side failed to honour its commitments.

He also noted that the deal appeared to have secured important gains for Iran, which he said had demonstrated resilience in the face of prolonged economic and diplomatic pressure. Emphasising the uncertainty surrounding the accord's implementation, Ramesh said the next 60 days would be crucial in determining whether the agreement achieves its intended objectives.

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