Key points
- Shehbaz hails relations with Iran
- Will meet the Iranian leadership
- Pakistan premier thanks Iran for support during conflict with India
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday departed for Iran after concluding his two-day official visit to Turkiye.
The prime minister will arrive in Tehran, where he will meet the Iranian leadership, according to state media.
At the airport, the prime minister was seen off by Minister of National Defence of Turkiye Yasar Guler, Deputy Governor Istanbul Ilker Haktankacmaz, President Pakistan Turkiye Cultural Association Burhan Kayaturk, Ambassador of Pakistan in Turkiye Yousaf Junaid, Consul General Nauman Aslam, senior officials of Turkiye and staff members of Pakistan Embassy, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
“Deepest appreciation”
“The purpose of the prime minister’s visit to Turkiye was to express the deepest appreciation and acknowledgement for the support extended to Pakistan by the people of Turkiye and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the recent crisis with India,” state media reported.
Speaking to Iranian news agency IRNA ahead of the visit, Shehbaz Sharif hailed relations with Iran.
He also commented on the ongoing indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, expressing hope that the talks will yield positive results.
Remembering late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, he said, “One of my best memories is meeting the late President Ebrahim Raisi before his martyrdom in a tragic plane crash. Pakistan was the last country he visited before his passing away. May Allah rest his soul in peace. He was a very inspiring, thoughtful, and farsighted person.”
Pezeshkian’s invitation
He said he was visiting Iran again at the invitation of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“Since his assumption of office, I have met him several times and have had numerous telephone conversations with him. The principal objective of my visit is to thank Iran for supporting and standing by us during our conflict with India,” he said.
