Islamabad; May 24, 2019: Foreign Minister of Iran Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is paying an official visit to Pakistan, called on Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser in Parliament House, this afternoon. The meeting was held in cordial atmosphere where ways and means to further intensify Pak-Iran bilateral relations besides forging unity amongst the Muslim Ummah were discussed.

The Speaker welcomed the Iranian Foreign Minister and underlined the importance, the people and government of Pakistan attached to the long standing brotherly relations between the two countries. The Speaker expressed his deep concern over the recent tension in the gulf region which posed a treat to the regional peace and stability. He said that all sides needed to exercise restraint and a solution may be found for amicable resolution within the framework of international law. He reiterated the support of Government of Pakistan for Joint Comprehensive Plan, which represents an excellent example of negotiated settlement of complex issues through diplomacy and dialogue. Referring to his interaction with his counterpart Dr. Ali Larajani, the Speaker said that there was a broader consensus for strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations through enhancing parliamentary interaction and cooperation.

The Speaker also spoke about the ongoing cooperation between Iran and Pakistan in diverse sectors. He said that immense economic potential exist on both sides which needed to be utilized for mutual benefit. He also expressed his satisfaction on the cooperation between law enforcement of both the countries which had substantially resulted in decrease in insurgency along both sides of the borders. He said that the military operation would continue till terrorism was exterminated from the Pakistani soil.

The Iranian Foreign Minister thanked the Speaker for his sentiments and said that Iran had special affection for their Pakistani brethren and strongly believed in the need for further strengthening of these relations. He said that continuous interaction between the political and parliamentary leadership from both countries would help further cement Pak-Iran relations. He also briefed the Speaker about the role foreign countries were playing in implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan. He said that Iran would exercise restraint, however, would not allow anyone to wage economic war on Iran. Foreign Minister Zarif was confident that concerted efforts by all concerned would lead to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing crisis. The Iranian Foreign Minister agreed that Muslim leaders should play their role for bringing Ummah on same page to counter common threats and challenges. He thanked for diplomatic support of Pakistan extended to Iran, regionally and internationally.