ISLAMABAD: Iran and Pakistan are currently in one of their "most constructive phases" in decades, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri-Moghaddam said Tuesday during a talk at an Islamabad think tank, according to a press release.
The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East, and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad hosted a public event titled “Pakistan-Iran Relations: An Enduring Partnership in a Changing Region.”
Amiri-Moghaddam said the two neighbors share a long border and together represent nearly 350 million people. He noted that strong people-to-people ties, a strategic location, and complementary economic structures create opportunities for cooperation.
The ambassador described the two countries as brotherly nations bound by culture, history, and religion. He said ties predate Pakistan’s creation, with Iran being the first country to recognize the new state and supporting Pakistan during the 1965 and 1971 wars.
The Iranian ambassador said that more than 25 high-level delegations have been exchanged with Pakistan over the past two years, with 25 agreements and memoranda of understanding signed across sectors, reflecting an upward trajectory in bilateral relations.
Two Iranian presidential visits took place during this period, along with visits by Iran’s Speaker of Parliament, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, the foreign minister, and other senior officials.
Collaboration extends through regional engagement and mutual diplomatic support. Both countries are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization, and the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation, he said.
He noted that Pakistan and Iran together form a market potential of nearly two billion, which could expand further with the inclusion of Turkiye. He said ties rest on a foundation of shared history, culture, and strategic interests.
He said Pakistan and Iran align on issues such as Palestine, while terrorism and separatist movements require closer coordination.
He acknowledged that difficult periods strained relations, but said the countries are now closer than ever despite challenges such as terrorism and sectarianism. He added that amid regional hostilities, Pakistan and Iran remain committed to pursuing peaceful solutions.
Pak-Iran ties grounded in shared security
Meanwhile, CAMEA Director Dr Amina Khan said the bilateral relationship between Iran and Pakistan was grounded in historical ties, geographic proximity, and shared security and economic interests.
She said that relations have remained positive in recent years, marked by high-level engagement, close coordination on regional developments, and adherence to the principle of sovereign equality.
She noted that both countries are aligned on issues including Afghanistan, the Gaza crisis, and broader regional stability.
The director also mentioned that Pakistan condemned Israel’s 12-day military strikes on Iran last year as “reckless” provocations and a “grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” international law, and the UN Charter.
An engaging question-and-answer session was held at the end of the event, which was attended by diplomats, academics, students, practitioners, and members of civil society, according to the press release.
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