Pakistan and Iran agree to strengthen ties on regional, global issues

Islamabad saw another round of senior-level engagement between Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday as Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

The two officials discussed regional affairs, ongoing security concerns and ways to expand cooperation at a time when both countries are trying to navigate a shifting geopolitical landscape.

The meeting, held in Islamabad, carried a strong message of continuity. According to the Foreign Office, both sides voiced their intention to strengthen coordination on issues that matter to the wider region and to build on existing political and economic ties.

Officials described the atmosphere as constructive, with both countries signalling that recent turbulence in the Middle East has made closer cooperation even more important.

Larijani arrived in Pakistan on Monday and is scheduled to meet political and military leaders during his stay. His visit comes only a few weeks after Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf travelled to Islamabad, making this the second top-tier Iranian delegation to reach Pakistan in a short span of time. The steady stream of engagements suggests a renewed push by Tehran to deepen dialogue with Islamabad.

Before landing in Pakistan, Larijani shared a message on X calling Iran and Pakistan key players in regional stability. He noted the long-standing ties between the two neighbours and recalled the support Iranians received from the Pakistani public during the twelve-day conflict between Iran and Israel earlier this year.

The sense of significance surrounding the visit was echoed by Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Reza Amiri Moghaddam, who described it as an important moment for the two countries. He wrote that global and regional shifts have increased the urgency for both sides to reassess their cooperation and push their partnership into what he called a new strategic phase.

The recent uptick in visits began in August when Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian travelled to Pakistan. His meetings with Pakistan’s civil and military leadership covered a range of issues, from rising tensions in Gaza to shared security concerns along the Balochistan border.

President Pezeshkian spoke of raising bilateral trade to Rs10bn and showed interest in working with Pakistan and China to expand regional commerce under initiatives linked to the Silk Road. The two countries signed at least a dozen agreements covering various sectors.

In October, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Iran, where he also met President Pezeshkian. That visit focused largely on border security, counterterrorism and the challenges both countries face due to militant activity in the region.

Larijani’s ongoing visit appears to be part of this broader diplomatic momentum. With several high-level exchanges already completed this year, both sides seem keen to keep the conversation going and to translate political goodwill into practical cooperation.