Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian used his visit to Islamabad to reaffirm that Tehran will not negotiate over its ballistic missile programme while signalling a broader push to strengthen regional partnerships after the recent Iran-US memorandum of understanding (MoU). The visit also highlighted Pakistan’s role in facilitating diplomacy between Tehran and Washington and underscored plans to expand economic and strategic cooperation between the two neighbours.
At a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian said Iran and Pakistan are determined to use the current positive momentum to open a new chapter in bilateral relations. He described the visit as evidence of longstanding trust between the two countries and said discussions focused on bilateral cooperation, regional stability and international developments.
Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s support for dialogue and de-escalation, arguing that regional peace and prosperity can only be achieved through cooperation among neighbouring countries. Sharif, in turn, thanked Pakistan’s military and diplomatic leadership for their role in helping secure the Iran-US MoU and said recent events had reinforced ties between Islamabad and Tehran.
The Iranian president also reiterated Tehran’s position on future negotiations, stating that Iran would maintain its “elements of power” and that “no negotiations regarding ballistic missiles have taken place or will take place.” While expressing distrust toward the United States, he said Iran remains prepared for dialogue and will continue to honour its commitments under the MoU as long as Washington does the same.
Economic cooperation featured prominently during the visit. Sharif said a previously announced target of $10 billion in bilateral trade should be increased to $30 billion. He called for new trade and transit routes, improved customs procedures and stronger banking links to boost economic exchanges.
The visit comes shortly after the Iran-US MoU, which Pakistan helped facilitate. It also follows heightened regional tensions and recent military confrontations involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
If the diplomatic momentum generated by the MoU is sustained, Iran and Pakistan could deepen strategic coordination and significantly expand trade. However, Tehran’s firm stance on its missile programme suggests that future negotiations with Washington will continue to face major limitations.
