Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday declared that Pakistan and Iran would stand as an iron wall against any forces seeking to undermine regional peace, asserting that there is no shortage of spoilers globally who are unhappy with the breakthrough achieved through the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Joint Press Conference Highlights
Addressing a joint press stakeout alongside Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian after delegation-level talks, the prime minister stressed that both countries are fully determined to resist attempts aimed at undermining peace efforts. President Pezeshkian is on a state visit to Pakistan at PM Shehbaz's invitation, accompanied by a high-level delegation including ministers and senior officials.
“There is no dearth of spoilers around the globe who are deeply dejected over this truce that can lead to lasting peace and prosperity and create unnecessary doubts and confusion,” the prime minister said. “President Masoud Pezeshkian and I are completely resolved to remain iron walls against those spoilers.”
Productive Talks in Cordial Atmosphere
PM Shehbaz described his discussions with President Pezeshkian as very productive and held in a highly cordial atmosphere. “It was like a family reunion, and brothers were talking to each other with the fullest clarity and total commitment that we will do everything to strengthen our brotherly relations like never before,” he remarked.
He noted that Pakistan and Iran have consistently stood by each other during difficult times and that recent developments have once again demonstrated the enduring strength of their friendship and partnership.
Islamabad MoU and Regional Peace
Calling the occasion a historic moment in Pakistan-Iran relations, PM Shehbaz welcomed the successful conclusion of the Islamabad MoU signed last week between the United States and Iran. “It is a matter of great happiness that this war has come to an end, which could have engulfed the entire region and beyond,” he said.
The prime minister praised President Pezeshkian’s leadership and highlighted Pakistan’s role as an honest and sincere mediator in facilitating peace efforts. He also announced that he would visit Tehran next week to pay respects to the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and reaffirm Pakistan’s solidarity with the Iranian people.
Solidarity with Iran
PM Shehbaz paid tribute to Iran’s resilience during recent challenges, extending condolences over the loss of thousands of lives and expressing Pakistan’s unwavering support. “Your happiness is our happiness. Your sorrow is our sorrow. Iran’s success is our success, and Iran’s loss is our loss,” he said, adding that the people of Pakistan stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their Iranian brothers and sisters.
The prime minister thanked the Iranian leadership for placing its trust in Pakistan to facilitate the peace process and commended both Iranian and American delegations for their constructive participation in technical talks held in Switzerland. He also acknowledged the support of regional leaders, including Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for encouraging peace efforts.
Iranian President’s Remarks
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that recent developments have shown the strength of relations between Iran and Pakistan. “The relations between Tehran and Islamabad have always been based on mutual respect, goodwill, and historical trust, and recent developments have once again demonstrated the strength of this valuable asset,” Pezeshkian told the joint news conference.
He stressed that Iran’s ballistic missile program is not part of the recent memorandum of understanding with the US and “will never be.” “No negotiations have taken place regarding ballistic missiles and there will be no negotiations,” he added.
Historical and Cultural Ties
President Pezeshkian described Pakistan as not merely a neighbouring country but a brotherly nation bound to Iran through deep historical, cultural and religious ties. He said the discussions between the two countries reflect that the conducive environment will usher in a new era and open a new chapter in bilateral relations, drawing a new horizon for cooperation based on shared interests.
Quoting verses of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, whom he referred to as “Iqbal Lahori,” the Iranian president said the poet’s message of unity among Muslim nations remains as relevant as ever. “The two nations do not merely live next to each other; they share a common destiny in their aspirations, concerns and hopes,” he said.
Appreciation for Pakistan’s Role
President Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan’s sincere and responsible role in promoting peace and thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir, parliamentarians and the people of Pakistan for standing with Iran throughout the recent conflict. “Without these efforts, we would not have been here today,” he remarked.
The Iranian president said he had held constructive meetings with PM Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Field Marshal Asim Munir, during which both sides agreed to use the positive momentum to usher in a new era of cooperation and development. He emphasised that peace, stability and prosperity in the region can only be achieved through respectful dialogue and mutual understanding, while calling for a stronger regional security framework based on friendship and cooperation.
Trade and Economic Cooperation
Both leaders highlighted the need to expand trade, economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts, expressing confidence that the strong political will on both sides would elevate Pakistan-Iran relations to new heights.
Clarification on Ballistic Missiles
During a question-and-answer session, both leaders categorically rejected reports suggesting that Iran’s ballistic missile programme was discussed as part of the Islamabad MoU. President Pezeshkian stated that Iran’s missile capability was solely for national defence and had never been part of the negotiations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also clarified that ballistic missiles were neither discussed nor included in the agreement. “Without any fear of contradiction, ballistic missiles were never a subject of discussion between Iran and the United States. They were not mentioned in the MoU and were not on the table at all,” he said.
He warned against misinformation designed to derail the peace process and reiterated that Pakistan and Iran would continue working together to ensure the success of the peace initiative and regional stability. Later, the two leaders warmly embraced each other, symbolising the close and enduring bonds between the two neighbouring countries.
Meeting with Military Leadership
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, COAS & CDF, called on the Iranian President during which views on regional developments and peace initiatives were exchanged. The Iranian President appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and responsible role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional stability. He acknowledged Pakistan’s consistent efforts to encourage peaceful resolution of disputes and foster understanding among regional stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical challenges.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the region. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations and maintaining close consultations on issues of mutual interest, with the shared objective of advancing peace, prosperity and stability across the region.
President Zardari’s Meeting with Iranian Counterpart
Pakistan and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and regional peace during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and his Iranian counterpart Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian in Islamabad. President Zardari congratulated Dr. Pezeshkian on the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and expressed hope that ongoing technical-level negotiations would culminate in permanent peace in the region.
The president reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for Iran’s peace, stability, national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He said Pakistan has consistently opposed one-sided initiatives and has supported dialogue and diplomacy as the means to achieve a durable and sustainable solution to regional and global challenges.
Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan for its positive and constructive efforts in support of peace and dialogue and appreciated the support extended by Pakistan during recent challenging circumstances. He said Iran attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and looks forward to further expanding cooperation in political, economic, security, and regional matters. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, mainly regional peace and security, bilateral and regional connectivity, economic cooperation, and other issues of mutual interest.
