Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Lahore on Saturday for his first official visit to Pakistan. He is accompanied by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and a senior delegation.
The Iranian President was warmly welcomed at Lahore airport by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and other top officials. His visit is expected to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries.
During the two-day trip, the Iranian President will visit the mausoleum of national poet Allama Iqbal. A formal dinner is also scheduled in his honour. Security arrangements in Lahore have been tightened to ensure a smooth visit.
On Sunday, the Iranian President will head to Islamabad. There, he is expected to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both sides will hold high-level talks on political, economic, and regional matters.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit comes at a critical time for regional cooperation. Officials believe it will give a “new dimension” to the Pakistan-Iran relationship. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier visited Iran in May 2025.
Mehdi Sanai, a top adviser to the Iranian President, shared that the delegation will also meet cultural and business leaders. He said both nations are focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, religion, and culture.
Currently, trade between Iran and Pakistan stands at around $3 billion. Both countries aim to increase this figure through improved border trade and regional connectivity.
The Iranian President’s visit comes months after regional tensions involving Iran and Israel. Observers view the trip as a move by Tehran to deepen ties with neighbouring countries.
This is the second visit by an Iranian leader to Pakistan in two years. President Ebrahim Raisi visited in 2024, shortly before his death. Dr. Pezeshkian had also attended Raisi’s memorial in Tehran.
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