Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday backed Iran’s right to acquire nuclear power for peaceful purposes, saying that Islamabad stood by Tehran on this key matter.
“Pakistan stands by Iran for the acquisition of peaceful nuclear power,” said PM Shehbaz during a joint presser alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is on his maiden two-day visit to the country.
Pakistan’s support comes against the backdrop of international opposition faced by Iran regarding its nuclear programme, which recently became the centre point of its war with Israel.
The conflict saw the United States carrying out strikes on multiple nuclear sites in Iran.
After the US and its European allies namely France, Germany and the United Kingdom, agreed to set the end of August as the de facto deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, Tehran has held “frank” nuclear talks with the said European countries — a move which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) believes could eventually lead to the resumption of inspections of nuclear sites in Iran.
The European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to the 2015 deal — from which the US withdrew in 2018 — which lifted sanctions on Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear programme.
A deadline of October 18 is fast approaching when the resolution governing that deal expires.
At that point, all UN sanctions on Iran will be lifted unless the “snapback” mechanism is triggered at least 30 days before. This would automatically reimpose those sanctions, which target sectors from hydrocarbons to banking and defence.
$10 billion trade target
Addressing a joint presser with the Iranian president, PM Shehbaz said that discussions were held between the two countries on bilateral relations, geographical and other issues.
“Several MoUs have been signed with Iran today. I hope these will take the form of agreements very soon,” the premier said, adding that the two countries have set out a $10 billion trade target.
Expanding on Iran’s recent war with Israel, PM Shehbaz condemned the former’s unjustified attack and prayed for those martyred in Iran.
Lauding Tehran’s leadership for its support to the Palestinians, the prime minister drew a comparison between the situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) while urging the civilised world to raise its voice against the atrocities in Gaza.
“The world must unite for peace in Gaza,” PM Shehbaz said.
Meanwhile, expressing gratitude for the hospitality, Iranian President Pezeshkian termed Pakistan his “second home”.
Noting that he held fruitful discussions with the Pakistani leadership, the Iranian president thanked Islamabad for its support against Israeli aggression and underscored the dire need for unity among the Muslim Ummah.
Expressing his views on the bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries, the visiting dignitary said that Pakistan-Iran relations were based on common culture and religion and good relations with Islamabad were part of Tehran’s foreign policy.
“We are advancing bilateral relations in various dimensions. Promoting bilateral cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields is a priority,” he said while stressing the significance of MoUs signing.
The president also said that the two countries were engaged in bilateral cooperation to improve border security.
MoUs
Prior to the joint presser, the two countries exchanged 12 agreements and MoUs for promotion of bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, Radio Pakistan reported.
The agreements and MoUs included cooperation for plant protection and plant quarantine; joint use of Mirjaveh-Taftan border gate; collaboration in science, technology and innovation; cooperation in information and communications technology, exchange programmes for culture, art, tourism, youth, mass media and exports cooperation in meteorology, climatology and related hazards; MoUs on maritime safety and firefighting; judicial assistance in criminal matters; supplemental MoU to an MoU in 2013 related to air services agreement; MoU on recognition of products certification, inspection and testing; tourism cooperation for 2025-27 and joint ministerial statement on the intent to finalise Free Trade Agreement.
