PM Shehbaz and President Zardari hold key meetings with Iran's top security official

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari held separate meetings with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Dr Ali Ardeshir Larijani, during his official visit to Pakistan.

At the Prime Minister’s House, Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Dr Larijani and reiterated the historic and brotherly nature of Pakistan-Iran relations. Both sides stressed expanding cooperation in multiple sectors and reviewed key regional and international developments. The Prime Minister thanked Iran for its solidarity during difficult periods, while Dr Larijani appreciated Pakistan’s support during the recent 12-day conflict and its advocacy for dialogue and diplomacy. It was agreed that a delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will soon visit Iran to enhance cooperation, particularly in agriculture, connectivity, and communications.

At Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Zardari also held wide-ranging discussions with Dr Larijani, congratulating him on assuming his new office. The President thanked Iran for its humanitarian support after the floods and for its longstanding backing during Pakistan’s tensions with India.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s diplomatic and political support for Iran in the context of Israeli aggression and praised Iran’s stance on Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Zardari said Pakistan aims to expand bilateral trade and strengthen the Pakistan-Iran railway link and highlighted the importance of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.

Dr Larijani conveyed goodwill messages from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, lauded Pakistan’s armed forces, and noted that Iran has moved to grant preferential market access to Pakistani products—an important step toward the $10 billion trade target. Senior officials from both countries attended the meetings and discussed security cooperation, counterterrorism, and regional stability.

Also on Tuesday, Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral ties in diverse areas and enhance cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The bilateral ties and cooperation were discussed in a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Dr. Ali Larijani.

Earlier, DPM Dar received Ali Larijani at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who arrived in Islamabad on his official visit to Pakistan on Monday night.