Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian received a guard of honour at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Tuesday ahead of delegation-level talks between Pakistan and Iran.
A smartly turned-out contingent of the armed forces presented a ceremonial salute to the visiting president, while the national anthems of Pakistan and Iran were played in line with state visit traditions.
Earlier, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad on a one-day official visit and was accorded a warm welcome upon his arrival. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior officials received the Iranian leader.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was also part of the high-level delegation accompanying the president.
The visit comes a day after Pakistan and Qatar announced that the first round of high-level talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland had resulted in a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final agreement.
According to Habibollah Abbasi, director of public relations at the Iranian president’s office, one of the key objectives of the visit is to thank Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said President Pezeshkian is accompanied by ministers and other senior officials. During the visit, he will hold separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The two countries are expected to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, border security, people-to-people contacts and regional connectivity.
The visit will also provide an opportunity to discuss ongoing diplomatic engagement following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, along with regional and international developments of mutual interest.
The Foreign Office said the visit reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Iran to deepen their historic ties and promote peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.
This is President Pezeshkian’s second visit to Pakistan since assuming office as Iran’s president.
Meanwhile, mediators said the United States and Iran made encouraging progress during their first round of talks in Switzerland. A joint statement issued by Pakistan and Qatar said both sides had agreed on a roadmap for a final agreement within 60 days, while technical discussions would continue in Buergenstock.
The statement also said the parties agreed on a mechanism to end fighting in Lebanon and established a communication channel to ensure safe passage for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Vice President JD Vance described the talks as a positive first step towards a broader peace agreement in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting dialogue and diplomacy aimed at achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution. He praised both the United States and Iran for maintaining constructive engagement and thanked Qatar and Switzerland for facilitating the diplomatic process.