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Iran’s top security official has described Pakistan as a “great asset of the Islamic world” and called for stronger trade and cooperation between the two countries.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistani Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi in Tehran on Wednesday, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency.
Rezaei said successive Iranian leaders had regarded Pakistan as a strategic partner of the Islamic Republic, describing ties between the neighbouring countries as being based on “true and faith-based affection”.
He said Iran considered Pakistan’s government, military and people an important asset to the Muslim world. He also welcomed the growing role of Pakistan’s prime minister and army chief in regional affairs.
Rezaei said Iran, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Indonesia had a responsibility to promote unity and solidarity among Muslim countries.
He added that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attached special importance to Pakistan and believed bilateral trade should increase several times.
“The affection between the people of Iran and Pakistan is beyond description and is exemplary in the world,” Rezaei said.
Naqvi also met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Mashhad, where the Pakistani minister was visiting the shrine of Imam Reza.
The two held talks at Shahid Hasheminejad Airport after Araghchi arrived in the city on Wednesday afternoon.
Iran’s official IRNA news agency said they discussed matters of mutual interest but did not provide further details.
Naqvi had earlier met President Pezeshkian in Tehran.
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, Pezeshkian called for expanding bilateral cooperation by making better use of the existing potential of both countries.
He highlighted the historical, cultural and people-to-people ties between Iran and Pakistan and said Tehran was ready to expand relations in areas of mutual interest.
The Iranian president also stressed the importance of stronger economic, trade, cultural and security cooperation, saying closer ties could contribute to regional stability and security.
He welcomed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening relations with Iran and promoting regional solidarity.
The high-level contacts come as Tehran and Islamabad seek to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation on regional issues and among Muslim countries.
