Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday clarified that Iran’s ballistic missile program is not part of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Tehran and Washington to end the war.
Speaking alongside Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was on an official visit of Pakistan, Sharif said there should be no double standards regarding ballistic missiles. Iran has the same right to have them as other countries, he added.
Cautioning against attempts by “spoilers” to misrepresent the agreement and undermine the peace process, he said there should be no confusion or misunderstanding regarding the contents of the MoU.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to continuing its mediation efforts between Iran and the United States, Sharif said Islamabad would play its role until a lasting and honorable peace is achieved. He praised the courage and resilience of the Iranian leadership and people, expressing appreciation for their steadfastness during a challenging period for the country.
The prime minister also commended Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir for his outstanding contribution to securing the ceasefire and facilitating the signing of the MoU. He reiterated that peace could not have been achieved without the support of friendly countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt.
Sharif said Pakistan would do everything humanly possible to prevent a wider conflict, warning outright war could engulf vast areas and have devastating regional consequences.
After the delegation-level talks, Sharif and Pezeshkian addressed a joint press conference in Islamabad, reaffirming their commitment to stronger bilateral relations, regional peace and continued cooperation.
The prime minister described his discussions with the Iranian president as highly productive. He said Pakistan would remain grateful to the Iranian leadership for placing its trust in Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate peace negotiations. He said Iran’s success was Pakistan’s success, and any setback for Tehran was also a negative for Islamabad.
Pezeshkian, during the press conference, also clarified that Iran’s missiles were not part of the MoU, stressing they “will never be.” He said Iran would never negotiate its defense capabilities with any country and believes strongly that regional peace and stability can only be reached through honest discussions and intraregional cooperation.
The Iranian president said ties between Pakistan and Iran were unique and founded in deep historical, cultural and religious ties. The people of both countries share a common future and destiny, he said.
Maintaining that Pakistan was not just a neighboring state but also a brotherly nation and close friend, Pezeshkian hoped ties between them would continue to strengthen across multiple sectors. He thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their support and acknowledged Islamabad’s contribution to peace, development and prosperity in the region.
He said the signing of the Islamabad MoU reflected Iran’s confidence in Pakistan’s mediation efforts. He also said his meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, the prime minister, and the CDF had proven productive, with discussions on bilateral relations and regional developments.
He noted the prime minister’s mention of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt was a “very well-placed mentioning of the roles that these authorities and these leaders actually played in the discussions that led to the peace” between the United States and Iran. “I believe Muslims shall form a united front against their enemies,” he added.
Pezeshkian concluded his speech by thanking the Pakistani side for its hospitality and for accepting the invitation to the commemoration of the late Khamenei.
Meeting with president
Earlier, the Iranian president met President Zardari and lauded Pakistan’s constructive contribution to Iran-U.S. dialogue, as well as reaffirming Tehran’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and regional peace.
According to a statement, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties, regional peace and security, bilateral and regional connectivity, economic cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Chief of the President’s Office Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, Minister of Interior Eskandar Momeni, Chief of Political Affairs of President’s Office Saeed Abbas Mousavi, and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam accompanied Pezeshkian.
From Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Senate Chief Whip Senator Saleem Mandviwala and Dr. Asim Hussain joined Zardari.
The statement said President Zardari had welcomed his Iranian counterpart on his first state visit to Pakistan after the recent conflict, noting the trip reflects the longstanding brotherly ties between the two countries and a desire to stay together in good and bad times.
He congratulated President Pezeshkian on the signing of the Islamabad MoU, expressing the hope that the ongoing technical-level negotiations would culminate in permanent peace in the region. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled support for Iran’s peace, stability, national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Zardari noted Pakistan has consistently opposed one-sided initiatives and has supported dialogue and diplomacy as the means to achieve a durable and sustainable solution to regional and global challenges. He also underscored Islamabad’s commitment to preserving the unity of the Muslim Ummah while maintaining strong fraternal relations with all countries of the Gulf region.
The president also condoled the martyrdom of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, saying Pakistan would participate in his funeral.
Pezeshkian, per the statement, thanked Pakistan for its positive and constructive efforts in support of peace and dialogue and appreciated the support extended by Pakistan during recent challenging circumstances. He said Iran attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and looks forward to further expanding cooperation in political, economic, security and regional matters.
President Zardari also requested President Pezeshkian to convey his warm regards to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei.
Army chief meeting
Field Marshal Asim Munir also called on the Iranian president during the latter’s visit to Islamabad, with the two exchanging views on regional developments and peace initiatives, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing said Pezeshkian had appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and responsible role in promoting dialogue, de-escalation, and regional stability. He acknowledged Islamabad’s consistent efforts to encourage peaceful resolution of disputes and foster understanding among regional stakeholders at a time of heightened geopolitical challenges.
The CDF, per the statement, reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the region.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Iran relations and maintaining close consultations on issues of mutual interest, with the shared objective of advancing peace, prosperity and stability across the region.
Following his meetings, President Pezeshkian concluded his daylong visit to Islamabad.
The trip marked the Iranian leader’s first foreign visit since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Tehran on Feb. 28. He arrived on a special aircraft operated by Mirage Airlines, identified as Minab 168 in tribute to the 168 children martyred in an attack on their school by the United States and Israel in Minab city.
Upon his arrival, he was given a red carpet welcome with a guard of honor, and was welcomed by the prime minister, President Zardari and other senior leaders.