Agha Iqrar Haroon
Islamabad, Pakistan, August 3, 2025: As a part of marathon diplomacy, under the clear-headed military and civilian leadership, Pakistan is running on a tight diplomatic rope with a fine balance as it has engaged China, the US, and Iran in less than 10 days while achieving its diplomatic target of being a player of multi-nodal diplomacy.
Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian, who is in Pakistan, was provided an exceptional welcome from Lahore to Islamabad, sending a message to global partners that Islamabad respects and cares for its historic relations with Iran.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, during his meeting and then in a joint presser with the Iranian President, said that Pakistan-Iran relations are based on common culture and religion and loudly supported Iran’s nuclear program for peaceful purposes.
PM Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, along with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian, during a joint press conference here on Sunday, while welcoming Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian, said that during the bilateral meetings, they had a comprehensive discussion including brotherhood, mutual relations, religious, cultural, and geographical areas. PM Sharif stated that when Israel launched an aggression against Iran in June without any solid evidence, the people and government of Pakistan strongly condemned it. He said that there was no justification for this war.
The Prime Minister prayed on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan for forgiveness for Iranian scientists, generals and other martyrs in the war and for the speedy recovery of the injured, saying that under the courageous and wise leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, the Iranian forces and people fought bravely in the war and badly exposed the Israeli defense in the rain of Iranian missiles.
He further said that during the war, the people and government of Iran vigorously defended their sovereignty and security. The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has a principled position that, according to the UN Charter, Iran has the full right to nuclear power for peaceful purposes, and Pakistan stands with Iran’s principled position.
Several agreements and MoUs were signed today, including enhancing bilateral trade to $10 billion as soon as possible.
Talking about terrorism that both countries face, PM Sharif stated that Pakistan and Iran have the same position against terrorism. “No kind of terrorism can be tolerated. We will ensure full cooperation against terrorism to open hundreds of kilometers of borders to open the highways of peace and development in the region so that terrorism can be eradicated forever”, commented Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
Talking about Israeli genocide in Gaza, PM Sharif paid tribute to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the President of Iran for raising their voices regarding the worst atrocities in Gaza, saying that Pakistan has always raised its voice strongly for the people of Gaza and Palestine.
He said that innocent people are being slaughtered every moment, the streets are red with the blood of the elderly, women, and youth. The entire world should speak in unison and raise its voice regarding Gaza. The international community will have to use its energies to establish peace; otherwise, history will not forgive us. Referring to the situation in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir”, said Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
He also highlighted the Indian genocide of innocent Kashmiris, stating that Kashmiris have the right to freedom, and Pakistan has always raised its voice in this regard and will continue to raise it.
Speaking on the occasion, Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian quoted Quranic verses and said that our friend and neighboring country, Pakistan, is our second home.
Expressing gratitude for the wonderful hospitality extended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the government, he said that the government, parliament, and people of Pakistan have taken a strong stand against the American and Israeli aggression on Iran and supported us, for which we are grateful. He said that the poet of the East, Allama Iqbal, also taught unity and brotherhood in his poems and called the Islamic nation a unity. He said that our friendly relations are linked to deep historical and cultural ties. He said that our Prophet had also taught the lesson of unity on the basis of religion, and as long as we remain united, our sovereignty will remain intact.
Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian said that Iran considers Pakistan not only its neighbor but also its brother.
He said that by further expanding mutual relations and cooperation, we can expand mutual trade from $3 billion to the target of $10 billion very soon. Today, we have signed joint documents to promote cooperation in the fields of politics, culture, etc., which will help in the development of transport, science and technology, culture, tourism, and business sectors. He said that we are committed to promoting mutual relations in order to ensure the implementation of these important agreements.
The Iranian President said that the development of transit trade corridors, rail, road, and sea routes, border markets, and the establishment of joint free economic zones are extremely important for us, which will strengthen and expand the relations between the two countries.
He added that in the context of threats from terrorists in the border areas, mutual measures are indispensable for the protection of the people of both countries. The Iranian President said that the two countries have common views on regional and global issues, and the promotion of economic relations can ensure development and prosperity. He strongly condemned the Israeli actions of human rights violations in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, saying that Israel is guilty of acts of genocide.
He called for an immediate ceasefire and said that Pakistan and Iran believe that expansionist ambitions can be stopped by promoting mutual cooperation at the regional and global levels so that security and stability can be ensured in the region. He further said that regional and global cooperation is needed to end Israeli aggression, and the UN Security Council should abandon double standards and ensure the end of aggression.
At the end of his speech, he once again expressed gratitude for the hospitality and invited Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to visit Iran so that the process of promoting mutual relations could be further expanded. Earlier, Pakistan and Iran exchanged various agreements and memoranda of understanding. In this regard, a special ceremony was organized at the Prime Minister’s House on the occasion of the visit of Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Iranian President Dr. Masoud Peshkeshian also attended the ceremony. A total of 12 documents were exchanged on this occasion.
Meeting between the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Prime Minister of Pakistan
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Masoud Peshmerga, who is currently on an official visit to Pakistan, today called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House. The Prime Minister received him warmly upon his arrival at the Prime Minister’s House. He was presented with a guard of honor, and a formal reception ceremony was held. The two leaders held a bilateral meeting, which was followed by delegation-level talks.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other important federal ministers, ministers of state, and senior government officials during the delegation-level talks.
Stressing the importance of the long-standing brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, the Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the Iranian leadership, armed forces, and people, who bravely faced Israeli aggression during the recent 12-day war. The Prime Minister expressed his condolences over the martyrdom of Iranian military personnel, scientists, and innocent civilians during this war and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He thanked Iran for its support to Pakistan during the recent Pak-India tensions.
President Pezhakian thanked the Pakistani government and people for their unwavering support of Iran during the war and said that the Iranian nation will always remember this spirit.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to further expand the existing broad-based bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran, especially in the areas of trade, coordination, culture, and people-to-people relations. In this regard, the Prime Minister stressed the need for the early convening of the 22nd Pak-Iran Joint Economic Commission, which is expected soon.
The two leaders attended the ceremony to exchange several memoranda and agreements in various areas of mutual interest, which will play an important role in strengthening bilateral relations.
Several measures to promote trade were discussed, including facilitating barter trade, increasing quotas for rice, fruits, and meat exports, operationalizing border markets, and removing trade barriers. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the progress of recent Pak-Iran trade talks. They reiterated their commitment to increase the current volume of bilateral trade from $3 billion to the target of $10 billion as soon as possible.
The two sides also discussed regional and global issues. The Prime Minister of Pakistan thanked the Iranian leadership for its open and practical support for the Palestinian people, who are facing the brutality of Israeli forces. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s full support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with UN resolutions and called for an immediate end to Israeli atrocities in Gaza and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the oppressed people there. Both leaders called on the international community to take immediate steps to resolve this crisis. The Prime Minister also thanked Iran for its support for the oppressed people of the illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister also hosted a luncheon in honor of the Iranian President and his delegation. The two leaders also attended a joint press conference earlier.
