President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday welcomed efforts to ease tensions and promote regional peace, warning that any military escalation involving Iran could destabilise the Gulf region, South Asia and West Asia.

“Any instability involving Iran, or any attempt to resolve issues through military means, carries grave risks. Such actions could… undermine global peace and cause serious harm to the global economy. The stakes are far too high for confrontation,” the president said while speaking at a reception hosted by the Iranian embassy to mark the 47th anniversary of Iran’s National Day.

He said Pakistan opposed unilateral sanctions and coercive measures, including those against Iran, and believed peaceful engagement best served regional and global security.

“Pakistan welcomes efforts aimed at easing tensions and encourages continued dialogue among relevant parties in a constructive spirit, with the objective of promoting peace and stability in the region,” he added.

Earlier, the president asked participants to observe a minute’s silence for the victims of a recent blast in Islamabad and the tragedies in Iran.

“Let’s pray that wars never come to us,” the president said.

Referring to ongoing conflicts, terrorism, external interference and unresolved regional flashpoints, President Zardari said such challenges could not be addressed through force or unilateral actions.

He said Pakistan and Iran, as neighbouring countries, shared responsibilities and remained committed to cooperation on border management, counter-terrorism, and transforming the shared frontier into a zone of cooperation, lawful trade and development.

The president said Pakistan valued balanced global relations and stood ready to play a constructive role in promoting restraint, dialogue and regional peace.

He extended warm congratulations to the leadership and people of Iran. “May our partnership continue to grow, and may our region move towards security, stability and shared prosperity,” he said.

President Zardari said Pakistan and Iran were not only neighbours but civilisational partners, bound by faith, history and enduring cultural ties. He noted the deep influence of the Persian language on Pakistan’s intellectual and cultural life, including its imprint on the national anthem.

He also highlighted shared literary and philosophical traditions, citing poets such as Rumi, Hafiz, Saadi and Ferdowsi, and noted that Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who wrote extensively in Persian, remained a shared symbol for both societies.

In his welcome address, Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moghaddam said Iran had made significant progress in technology, defence, science and the economy despite external pressures. He said the Iranian nation had shown resilience and self-reliance by turning challenges into opportunities.

The ambassador reiterated that Iran did not seek war and favoured resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, but said Iran would fully retaliate if war was imposed in defence of its sovereignty.

He also referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Iran, during which several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed, and thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their support, particularly during Israeli aggression against Iran.