TEHRAN, Oct 22: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said here on Wednesday that relations between Iran and Pakistan had been growing since 1979, marking triumph of the Islamic Revolution — a trend that should be continued vigorously.

Ayatollah Khamenei told Pakistani Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali that Iranian and Pakistani nations’ interests and bonds go beyond political ties and having roots in their cultural, religious and historical backgrounds.

The Supreme Leader referred to the current situation of the Islamic world and the pressures and threats against Muslim nations, particularly the Afghan, Iraqi and Palestinian nations, stressing the need for further convergence among Islamic states.

Ayatollah Khamenei said enemies, led by the US, fear convergence of Islamic states and had always been in efforts to sow discord.

He added that Muslim states should maintain vigilance and move against the wishes of the enemies.

For his part, Mr Jamali provided the Supreme Leader with brief account of talks he had had with Iranian officials in Tehran and said relations between Tehran and Islamabad go beyond economic and trade domains, but definitely, they would get further consolidated in future.

Pointing to the conditions of Muslims worldwide and the pressures exerted against them, Mr Jamali said on the same basis, Muslim states should move towards confidence building and closer ties.

KHOMEINI’s MAUSOLEUM: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali visited the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini on Wednesday, laid a wreath and paid homage to the great leader of Islamic Revolution.