Pakistan Links Iran Project Progress to Sanctions Relief
Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson stated on Wednesday that the advancement of economic projects with Iran will be contingent on the speed at which international sanctions against Tehran are lifted. This statement came a day after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian concluded a day-long visit to Islamabad.
President Pezeshkian arrived in the Pakistani capital on Tuesday for discussions with civilian and military leaders regarding the next phase of US-Iran peace talks. Pakistan has been actively seeking to expand bilateral trade with Iran to $10 billion as part of its strategy for sustainable economic growth.
Sanctions Hamper Key Energy Pipeline
Economic ventures between the two nations have been hindered by global sanctions targeting Iran. A prominent example is the 1,900-kilometer pipeline project, designed to supply 750 million to one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from Iran to Pakistan over 25 years. Construction on the Pakistani side has been delayed due to fears of US sanctions.
“The progress on economic projects and opening up of Iran for economic and trade relations across the world will take place simultaneously with the relief of sanctions,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters during a weekly press briefing. “Till such time that the sanctions are relieved, the progress on these projects will hinge on the pace of the relief of sanctions. It is important to match the two.”
No New Agreements Signed During Visit
When questioned about the absence of new trade agreements or memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during Pezeshkian’s visit, Andrabi characterized the trip as “historic.” He explained that leaders from both countries conducted a “broad-brush” review of trade and the implementation of previously signed MoUs. The “major outcome” of the visit, according to Andrabi, was a mutual commitment to advancing peace and stability in the region.
“The Iranian side reaffirmed their trust in us, for which we are grateful,” Andrabi said. “In that sense, the visit carried significant outcomes both in terms of its historic importance as well as its substance for the future of our relations.”
Iranian President Praises Pakistan’s Peace Efforts
President Pezeshkian shared his reflections on the meetings in a post on X on Wednesday, stating, “Pakistan’s tireless efforts to promote peace in the region are rooted in the rich culture of this country.”
Experts View Visit as Symbolic and Substantive
Foreign policy analysts weighed in on the significance of Pezeshkian’s visit. Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United States, noted that the visit had both “symbolic and substantive aspects.” She explained, “Symbolic because it was aimed at conveying Iran’s gratitude to Pakistan for its role as a mediator that helped lead to a peace deal between the US and Iran.” Lodhi added that under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding framework, Pakistan participates in several task forces and committees responsible for implementing the agreement, necessitating close coordination with Iran.
Imran Ali, another former Pakistani ambassador, described the visit as significant “but not highly so,” noting it was reciprocal in nature. He observed that relations between Pakistan and Iran were already cordial, and recent visits by Pakistani civil and military leaders to Tehran aimed to broker regional peace. “The optics, the warmth— that is very important,” Ali said. “I think the talks took place in a very warm atmosphere.”
Ali expressed optimism about long-term progress on the gas pipeline, energy agreements, and bilateral ties. “Yes, small and short-term sanctions are going to be lifted through an executive order at least for 60 days,” he said. “But I think Pakistan and Iran are discussing beyond that, and it will take some more meetings at the lower level.”
