ISLAMABAD: Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and discussing regional security, amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed Momeni at the airport, where Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry were also present to receive the visiting delegation.
Momeni is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes the governor-general of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, the deputy interior minister, the deputy minister for urban development and transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the special representative of Iran’s agriculture minister and other senior officials.
Later, the Iranian minister held talks with Naqvi in Islamabad, where both sides reviewed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Momeni described Pakistan-Iran ties as exemplary and thanked the Pakistani government and people for their hospitality.
Naqvi expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen cooperation between the neighboring countries and voiced hope for positive developments on regional issues. He said Pakistan looked forward to expanding bilateral engagement and supporting efforts to ease regional tensions.
During his visit, Momeni is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces.
The visit comes as Iran and the United States remain engaged in renewed tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, while diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington continue through mediators despite recent hostilities.
Pakistan has said it will continue encouraging dialogue and support efforts to reduce tensions under a memorandum of understanding it helped facilitate last month.
