Iran President Pezeshkian visits Pakistan as Tehran-Washington roadmap advances

Islamabad,UPDATED: Jun 23, 2026 16:50 IST

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday on a day-long state visit centred on the implementation of the agreement signed between Iran and the US, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest. During the visit, he is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The two sides are also expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore ways to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, border security, people-to-people exchanges and regional connectivity. The visit comes after Iran and the US held talks in Switzerland and agreed on a roadmap to reach a final deal within 60 days.

According to state-run PTV, Pezeshkian landed at Nur Khan airbase, where he was received by President Zardari, Prime Minister Sharif and other senior officials. The Foreign Office had earlier said that the Iranian president was undertaking the state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Sharif. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the Senate chairman and the Assembly Speaker are also set to meet him. This is Pezeshkian's second visit to Pakistan as President of Iran.

Official media reported that Pezeshkian, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in Islamabad aboard a special aircraft, Minab 168, to honour the victims of the US strikes on the country, particularly the 168 students from Minab school who were killed in the American attacks.

Ahead of his departure, the Iranian president said his visit "aims to secure full implementation of the memorandum under international law". He added, according to state-run Press TV, that the agreement would help strengthen stability and security in West Asia. In a post on X, Pezeshkian said, "the effectiveness of the talks depends on full commitment to the agreed obligations and their precise implementation." He added, "Progress on this path will be measured by practical adherence to accepted responsibilities. Statements outside the agreed text do not help advance the negotiations."

The Foreign Office said the visit would provide an important opportunity to discuss ongoing diplomatic engagements following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, along with regional and international developments of mutual interest. It also said the two sides would review bilateral relations across a range of sectors.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Islamabad from Muscat. He had travelled to Muscat with Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf for high-level talks with the Omani leadership on the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit follows high-level talks between Iran and the US at the Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland on Sunday and Monday. Those talks were held under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed by the US and Iran on Thursday to advance negotiations on regional security and other contentious issues. The two countries also signed the MoU to restore peace in West Asia.

Security was on high alert in Islamabad because of the visit. The government closed bus terminals in the capital to restrict the movement of people coming into the city, while the Red Zone was shut. The Islamabad High Court and the Federal Constitutional Court also postponed hearings, as both courts are located in the high-security Red Zone and visitors were not allowed there for the day.

Pezeshkian's visit to Pakistan has brought together discussions on the Iran-US memorandum, bilateral ties and wider regional issues, while also prompting tight security arrangements in Islamabad for the day-long engagement.

With PTI Inputs

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