ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing regional cooperation and supporting lasting peace in the Middle East, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian addressed a joint press conference following high-level talks in Islamabad.
President Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on a one-day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, becoming the first foreign head of state to visit Islamabad following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran aimed at ending months of conflict and instability in the region.
The two leaders held one-on-one discussions at the Prime Minister’s House, followed by delegation-level talks covering bilateral relations, regional peace, economic cooperation, trade, energy, border management and connectivity.
Addressing the joint press conference, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described his discussions with President Pezeshkian as “highly productive” and held in an atmosphere of warmth and brotherhood.
“It was like a family reunion where brothers spoke with complete clarity and sincerity, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen relations between Pakistan and Iran like never before,” the prime minister remarked.
He said Pakistan and Iran had consistently stood by each other during difficult times and recent developments had further demonstrated the depth and resilience of the relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Beginning his remarks with Persian poetry celebrating friendship and solidarity, Prime Minister Shehbaz paid tribute to President Pezeshkian, describing him as a visionary, wise and patient leader who had devoted much of his life to serving humanity through medicine and public service.
Referring to the recent Islamabad MoU between Washington and Tehran, the prime minister termed it a historic breakthrough that helped avert a wider regional conflict.
“It is a matter of great satisfaction that this devastating war has come to an end. Had it continued, it could have engulfed the entire region and beyond,” he said.
The premier praised President Pezeshkian and the Iranian leadership for demonstrating wisdom and restraint during the crisis and highlighted Pakistan’s role as an honest and sincere mediator in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also announced that he would travel to Tehran next week to offer condolences on the death of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei and to reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the Iranian people.
He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of thousands of Iranian lives during the conflict and said Pakistan shared the grief of its Iranian brothers and sisters.
“Your happiness is our happiness, and your sorrow is our sorrow. Iran’s success is our success, and Iran’s loss is our loss,” he said.
The prime minister noted that Pakistan and Iran were bound by far more than geography, sharing centuries of common history, culture, religion and people-to-people ties.
He thanked the Iranian leadership for placing its trust in Pakistan to help facilitate peace efforts and stressed that Islamabad had performed this role with complete honesty and sincerity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also acknowledged the contributions of several friendly countries in supporting the peace initiative, particularly Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt.
He paid special tribute to Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, crediting him with playing a key role in building international consensus for peace.
“Even during the darkest days of the conflict, he remained steadfast in his commitment to ending the war and preventing further devastation,” the premier said.
He also appreciated the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and their teams for their diplomatic engagement throughout the process.
Speaking on the occasion, Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s responsible and visionary role in supporting negotiations and promoting regional stability.
Opening his speech with verses from Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the Iranian president said Pakistan and Iran shared a common destiny and deep historical, cultural and religious bonds.
“For us, Pakistan is not merely a neighbouring country; it is a brotherly nation with whom we share longstanding ties of friendship, trust and cooperation,” he said.
President Pezeshkian observed that relations between Tehran and Islamabad had always been built upon mutual respect, goodwill and historical trust, adding that recent developments had further strengthened this foundation.
He described Pakistan’s support for the US-Iran negotiations as a manifestation of brotherhood and strategic foresight at a critical moment in regional history.
“The acceptance of Pakistan’s initiative by Iran reflects the deep trust that the Iranian nation, government and leadership have in Pakistan,” he stated.
The Iranian president said he had held constructive discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir on regional developments and bilateral cooperation.
According to President Pezeshkian, both countries were determined to capitalize on the positive momentum generated by recent diplomatic efforts to usher in a new era of bilateral cooperation.
He stressed that peace, security and prosperity in West Asia and the Persian Gulf region could only be achieved through sincere dialogue, regional cooperation and mutual respect among nations.
“Based on this principle, we extend our hand of friendship to all countries in the region in order to build a common understanding and establish a new framework for regional security,” he said.
The Iranian president highlighted the enormous potential for expanding economic and trade cooperation between Pakistan and Iran and expressed confidence that ongoing efforts by ministers and officials from both countries would help remove obstacles and translate agreements into practical outcomes.
He said both governments were committed to opening new avenues of cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and investment.
During the press conference, President Pezeshkian also clarified that Iran’s ballistic missile programme had not been included in the Islamabad MoU and would not become part of any future agreement.
He stressed that Iran’s missile capabilities were essential for the country’s defence and national security.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, during a separate meeting with the Iranian leader at Aiwan-i-Sadr, reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for Iran’s peace, sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity.
The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations, regional security, economic cooperation and connectivity initiatives.
President Zardari congratulated President Pezeshkian on the signing of the Islamabad MoU and expressed hope that ongoing technical negotiations between Tehran and Washington would lead to permanent peace and stability in the region.
He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred means of resolving regional and international disputes.
President Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its support during recent challenging circumstances and expressed a desire to further expand cooperation in political, economic and security fields.
The Iranian president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and several senior officials.
During the visit, President Pezeshkian also met Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two leaders exchanged views on regional developments and peace initiatives.
President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote dialogue, de-escalation and regional stability, while Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and constructive engagement.
The Iranian president received a ceremonial welcome upon arrival at Nur Khan Airbase, where he was greeted by President Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other senior officials.
A 21-gun salute and fighter jet flypast marked the occasion, underscoring the significance of the visit.
Officials from both countries described the visit as an important milestone in Pakistan-Iran relations and expressed confidence that it would further strengthen cooperation across political, economic, diplomatic and security sectors while contributing to peace and stability throughout the region.
