Iran's president arrives today on two-day state visit

ISLAMABAD: President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Masoud Pezeshkian arrives today (Saturday) on a two-day state visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

This is Pezeshkian’s first visit to Pakistan after he assumed office and also the first after the recent Iran-Israel war.

“The visit is expected to further strengthen the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran. It may be recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last visited Iran on 26 May 2025,” announced the Foreign Office.

The state visit, it said, covers delegation-level talks and other engagements. The talks will cover the entire agenda of the bilateral relations.

“When a state visit takes place, that too, with a close friendly country, all issues of mutual interest are discussed in the spirit of cooperation, amity and friendship,” the FO said.

Of importance is the fact that the visit comes in the background of a statement few weeks ago by US Secretary State Marco Rubio after his meeting in Washington with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in which Rubio expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s “continued willingness to play a constructive role in mediating conversations with Iran”.

When the Foreign Office spokesperson was asked during the weekly media briefing about Rubio’s remarks on Iran, he responded, “Iran is our close friend and a brotherly neighbouring country. We remain committed to making positive contribution to bring the tensions down and promote diplomatic solutions to problem. We are open to play that role, and we will continue to play that role.”

Dr Pezeshkian will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister of Iran Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, senior ministers and other high-ranking officials.

During his stay, the Iranian president will meet with President Asif Ali Zardari, and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

To a query the FO spokesperson shrugged aside about KP chief minister’s comments which have compelled India to move FATF against Pakistan.

“About FATF there is a national authority for coordination of related issues, and the Foreign Office is working through the inter-ministerial mechanism. Secondly, the deliberations in the FATF are primarily confidential, but I will check through our Division concerned in the Ministry, and with the national authority,” he said.

The spokesperson disagreed with the perception that Trump’s warming up with Pakistan would adversely affect relations with China.

“I will not agree with this perception. China is a very close friend and iron brother. We enjoy a strategic partnership spread over decades. It’s a unique relationship between two friendly neighbouring countries and has nothing to do with what kind of relations we pursue with other countries. Pakistan-China relations are based on the principles of international law and UN Charter. Our relations remain robust and two sides are working to sustain the positive momentum,” he explained.

When asked about recent remarks made by President Trump regarding India and whether Pakistan had a role to play in this, he remarked, “We never try to embarrass anyone. We just articulate our position and pursue our country’s national interests. We believe in pursuing diplomacy in good faith and that is a fundamental premise for our diplomatic interaction with other countries.”

Pointing to the issue of Kashmir being raised by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during his meeting with Marco Rubio, the spokesperson said, “We always give our perspective on that. Of course, we would welcome any role played by common friends in mitigating tensions, promoting good relations and stability in South Asia,” he added.

While Pakistan says that there is better receptivity in Kabul regarding Islamabad’s key concerns on terrorist attacks on Pakistan from inside Afghanistan, Pakistan reiterates that it continues to explain that terrorist organisation like the BLA, TTP and similar other organisations are actually Indian proxies, working to destabilise Pakistan and create security challenges for Pakistan.

“All of them do enjoy sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. This has been an important topic for our conversation with our Afghan friends,” he pointed out.

When it was pointed out that important issues like Pakistan’s oil and minerals decision are announced through tweets, and not through formal statements, the spokesperson said it is a question of personal choice.

“If one believes in more traditional diplomacy, he will wait for an official long handout, which was customary 20 years ago. But now, in an era of instant communication, what was issued in a long press note in an abbreviated form is immediately released in the form of a tweet. I will not be able to comment on that as it is a question of personal choice. Our Foreign Ministry also took some time, but we do now operate an account on X (Twitter) and we continue to issue our position on that platform. This has become a new medium of information sharing,” he explained.

On several queries regarding the Trump administration levying 19 percent tariffs on Pakistani exports to the US, the FO spokesperson said it was for the Ministry of Commerce to give further details.

News Desk adds: During the weekly press briefing, the FO spokesperson dismissed India’s claims regarding “Operation Mahadev” as meaningless, asserting that the narrative holds no importance in Islamabad’s view.

According to Geo News, Shafqat Ali Khan said that Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement was based on “lies and fictional storytelling”.

He stressed that Pakistan categorically rejects India’s nuclear blackmailing rhetoric and the strategic relevance attached to the so-called Operation Mahadev.

The spokesperson described Indian political leaders’ remarks in the Lok Sabha concerning Operation Sindoor as baseless and provocative, saying that New Delhi is distorting facts and attempting to justify unprovoked aggression.

He also criticised Indian leaders’ statements about the Indus Waters Treaty, calling them unfounded and in violation of international obligations. “India’s unilateral suspension of the treaty is an affront to global agreements,” he said, adding that India’s pride in unlawful actions is regrettable.

On the Pahalgam incident, he pointed out that the suspects had been eliminated even before India’s parliamentary debate began, exposing the hollowness of the Indian narrative.

Muhammad Saleh Zaafir adds: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada will receive Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and his entourage upon their arrival in Lahore on Saturday (today) afternoon. The Iranian president he will visit Mazar-e-Iqbal. Later, he will proceed to Islamabad.