President of Iran, Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, will embark on a two-day state visit to Pakistan starting Saturday, August 2, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. This marks his first official visit to Pakistan as the newly elected Iranian president.
President Pezeshkian will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, senior cabinet members, and other key officials. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and meet President Asif Ali Zardari. The agenda includes discussions with Pakistan’s leadership, as well as interactions with cultural and commercial stakeholders.
According to Iranian news agency IRNA, the visit, initially expected in late July, was confirmed by the Iranian president’s political adviser, Mehdi Sanai, via a post on X (formerly Twitter). He stated that the visit would focus on strengthening political, economic, cultural, and religious ties between the two nations. Discussions are expected to revolve around enhancing border cooperation and increasing bilateral trade from the current $3 billion.
President Pezeshkian will be the second Iranian leader to visit Pakistan in less than a year, following the April 2024 visit of former president Ebrahim Raisi, who tragically passed away in a helicopter crash a month later. Raisi’s tour included stops in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, and played a significant role in reinforcing regional cooperation.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, speaking recently in New York, had confirmed that the Iranian president would “soon” visit Islamabad. Emphasizing Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy, Dar said that dialogue remains the best path forward in regional conflicts and reiterated Pakistan’s opposition to any aggression toward Iran, including attacks on its nuclear facilities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also paid a visit to Iran in May this year, both to express condolences over President Raisi’s death and to further enhance Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations.
The upcoming visit by President Pezeshkian is expected to serve as a strong reaffirmation of the two countries’ shared goals and long-standing partnership in areas of mutual interest.
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