The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, completed a historic two-day visit to Pakistan on Sunday, August 3, 2025, strengthening bilateral relations. The visit resulted in the signing of 12 agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in various sectors, as well as a joint agreement to increase bilateral trade, currently at $3 billion per annum, to an ambitious target of $10 billion.
Previously, in May, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan during the heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. Then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Iran in late May, where he met with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian. This visit of the Iranian President holds greater significance as it is the first official visit between both countries after Pakistan supported Iran in the Iran-Israel war.
President Pezeshkian departed Pakistan late Sunday, thanking Pakistani officials for the warm welcome, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He said in a statement on X that his visit has “opened a new chapter in diplomatic relations” between the two neighboring states, emphasizing on creation of a stronger and progressive partnership.
Visit to Lahore
The visit began in Lahore on Saturday, where President Pezeshkian was welcomed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and others. One of the symbolic moments was the visit of the Iranian President to the mausoleum of Allama Iqbal, where he laid a floral wreath and offered a prayer.
Arrival in Islamabad
On his arrival at Islamabad’s Nur Khan Air Base on Saturday evening, President Pezeshkian was received with full state honours by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. A 21-gun salute marked the ceremonial welcome at the same air base that, notably, India had claimed to have targeted during the May 2025 Pakistan-India brief war.
The president was accompanied by a high-level delegation, headed by the Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh. Meetings were held, with Iranian Defense Minister Nasirzadeh engaging in talks on military and border-related issues with his Pakistani counterpart Khwaja Asif, and Iranian Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Seyyed Abbas Aragahchi discussing regional stability, trade, and economic cooperation.
On the second day of the visit, Iranian President engaged in talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and met with President Asif Ali Zardari, reaffirming the commitment to cooperation and discussing development in the region. President Pezeshkian also met parliamentary leaders and scholars, emphasizing justice and Muslim unity.
MoUs and Agreements
The cornerstone of the meeting was the signing of 12 agreements and MoUs in various sectors like plant protection, shared use of Mirjaveh-Taftan border gate, science and technology, ICT, culture, tourism, meteorology, maritime safety, judicial assistance, air services, mutual recognition of product certification, and a tourism cooperation plan up to 2025-27.
Economic, Security, and Regional Cooperation
On the economic side, the two countries agreed to increase the level of bilateral trade to $10 billion per year. The conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was an important outcome, with an MoU signed to put it into effect as early as possible.
On security, both countries decided to enhance collaboration against militancy and terrorism along their common border. At regional levels, the two leaders criticized Israel for its inhumane crimes in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, with President Pezeshkian saying that silence is complicity. The Prime Minister Sharif made it clear that Pakistan supported the right of Iran to use peaceful nuclear energy and criticized the recent Israeli attacks on Iran.
The visit of the Iranian President is considered the start of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries. In the future, both governments are considering holding a meeting of the Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission, and Iran has also shown interest in joining the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This historic visit marks a serious attempt to establish a strong multi-dimensional alliance that can transform the dynamics in the region and bring more stability and prosperity.
