Iranian President Pezeshkian Arriving in Islamabad Today for First Official Visit

Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to land in Islamabad today (Saturday) for a two-day state visit to Pakistan, according to a statement released by the Foreign Office on Friday.

This marks President Pezeshkian’s first official visit to Pakistan since assuming office. He is visiting at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The Iranian leader will be accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, senior cabinet members, and top government officials.

During his stay, President Pezeshkian is expected to hold meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including delegation-level talks on bilateral cooperation.

According to Mehdi Sanai, Political Adviser to the Iranian President, the visit will feature engagements not only with Pakistani leadership but also with influential figures from the cultural and business sectors. “The relationship between Iran and Pakistan covers political, religious, cultural, and economic spheres,” Sanai stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) dated July 30.

Key goals of the visit include enhancing border and provincial cooperation and boosting bilateral trade beyond the current $3 billion mark.

This visit also makes President Pezeshkian the second Iranian head of state to visit Pakistan in the last two years. The visit was originally planned for late July but has now been rescheduled.

In April 2024, then-President Ebrahim Raisi made a three-day visit to Pakistan, shortly before his tragic death in a helicopter crash.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier traveled to Iran in May 2025, where he met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian president. That visit focused on deepening bilateral ties, improving trade and connectivity, and discussing key regional issues, including Iran’s role in promoting regional stability during Pakistan’s conflict with India.

The leaders also exchanged views on reinforcing strategic cooperation and voiced mutual concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for an end to Israeli aggression and the establishment of a durable ceasefire.

PM Shehbaz had also attended the memorial service for President Raisi in May 2024, highlighting the continued diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring nations.