Naqvi holds 90-minute meeting with Iranian President

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a 90-minute-long meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the Presidential Palace in Tehran on Sunday, as Islamabad steps up diplomatic engagement aimed at easing regional tensions and encouraging renewed dialogue between Tehran and Washington.

According to official and diplomatic sources, the meeting was also attended by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, underscoring the high-level nature of discussions held behind closed doors.

Iran’s state news agency reported that President Pezeshkian lauded Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in support of a ceasefire in the region and praised the contributions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Field Marshal Asim Munir in promoting regional de-escalation.

READ MORE: Pakistani minister arrives in Tehran to ‘facilitate’ US-Iran peace talks: Iranian media

He expressed hope that Pakistan’s continued diplomatic outreach would play a constructive role in advancing “lasting peace and stability” in a region still affected by heightened tensions.

The Iranian president reiterated Tehran’s desire for “sincere and stable relations” with Islamic countries, arguing that greater unity among Muslim states would reduce the scope for external interference.

He stressed that coordination and solidarity within the Muslim world could serve as the foundation for durable peace.

Pezeshkian also highlighted prospects for expanded economic engagement with Pakistan, welcoming Islamabad’s initiatives to promote border trade and broader commercial cooperation.

He said there remained “significant potential” to deepen bilateral ties across economic, trade, scientific, cultural and regional sectors, including enhanced collaboration in education, science and technology.

He further noted that despite recent wartime conditions, relations between Iran and Pakistan had grown closer, describing this as an opportunity to strengthen what he termed “brotherly ties” between the two neighbouring countries.

On the occasion, Naqvi said Pakistan and Iran had “never been closer”, adding that the relationship should be further strengthened on the basis of shared history, culture and people-to-people links. He said the people of Pakistan held deep respect and affection for the Iranian nation.

The discussions also covered bilateral relations, regional security dynamics, and the possibility of reviving negotiations between Iran and the United States amid continuing geopolitical tensions.

Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday on a two-day official visit and was received at the airport by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

His visit comes as Pakistan intensifies efforts to position itself as a facilitator for dialogue between Tehran and Washington following months of instability in the region.

The escalation was triggered by a conflict that erupted after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which led to Iranian retaliation and a subsequent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – a critical global energy chokepoint through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass. Although a fragile ceasefire announced on April 8 remains in place, diplomatic efforts to restart formal negotiations between Tehran and Washington have so far failed to yield progress.

According to diplomatic sources, a second round of talks expected last month did not materialise after US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit by an American negotiating team, reportedly amid disagreements over Iran’s proposals on uranium enrichment and regional security arrangements.

Pakistan has since intensified behind-the-scenes diplomacy aimed at encouraging renewed engagement between the two sides, in an effort to prevent further escalation and mitigate potential global economic repercussions, including rising energy prices and inflationary pressure in developing economies such as Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026