Prime Minister Imran Khan reaches Iran for 2-day official visit

E-Paper | April 26, 2026

Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Iran on Sunday evening for a two-day official visit on the invitation of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

This marks the first time Prime Minister Imran is visiting the neighbouring country after assuming office.

The premier made a stopover in Mashhad before proceeding on to Tehran. Ali Reza Razm Hussaini, the governor general of Khorasan-e-Razavi province, received the prime minister upon arrival at the Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Iran Riffat Masood, officials of the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran and Pakistan Consulate in Mashhad were also present at the airport.

According to a press release by the Prime Minister's Office, the premier is accompanied by Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari; Minister for Maritime Affairs, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi; Adviser to PM on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Dr Zafarullah Mirza; and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Petroleum, Nadeem Baber.

Later in the day, the premier visited the shrine of Imam Raza in Mashhad.

After a brief stopover in Mashhad, Prime Minister Imran arrived at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport, where he was received by Health Minister of Iran (Minister-in-waiting) Dr Saeed Namaki.

"He was presented 'static guard' upon arrival," read a press release issued by the PM Office.

Prime Minister Imran was initially scheduled to visit Iran in January, but the visit was postponed at the eleventh hour because of unexplained reasons.

Relations between Iran and Pakistan have had a bad patch due to security issues along the border.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) lodged a strong protest with Iran regarding its inaction against terror groups believed to be involved in the Ormara massacre that saw 14 armed officers murdered in cold blood on the Balochistan coastal highway at Buzi Top.

In a letter written to the Iranian embassy on Friday, the MoFA stated: "Killing of 14 innocent Pakistanis by terrorist groups based in Iran is a very serious incident that Pakistan protests strongly."

A day earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had condemned the attack.

In a post shared on Twitter, Zarif wrote: "Strongly condemning the recent terrorist attack in Pakistan, just as PM [Imran Khan] embarks on his first, historic visit to Iran."

According to diplomatic sources, border security issues will be on top of the prime minister's agenda in Tehran.

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Wellwisher

Apr 21, 2019 06:35pm

IK was to avoid foreign trips

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ahmed

Apr 21, 2019 06:51pm

Build good relations with Iran and support its fight against isolation. A great country with common heritage.

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SKY

Apr 21, 2019 06:56pm

Very good. We hope the trip results in a massive strengthening of ties between the two countries.

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Akram

Apr 21, 2019 07:07pm

Good. Both brotherly countries should discuss all outstanding issues in order to create peace at the borders.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Apr 21, 2019 07:11pm

Let's hope PM's visit to Iran will help clarifying a number of misunderstandings prompted by various propogands against Pakistan inintiated by enemies of peace. Iran is our neighbor and we value their brotherly friendship. (Awam ki Awaz).

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Chowkidar

Apr 21, 2019 07:35pm

Condemnation is easy, taking action and walking the talk is difficult.

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Fastrack

Apr 21, 2019 07:44pm

Pakistanis trust their captain. Go IK.

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Gibraltar

Apr 21, 2019 07:47pm

We need good relations with our neighbours. Iran is our brother country and the first country who accepted Pakistan after its inception.

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Lahore Vivek

Apr 21, 2019 07:48pm

No royal welcome for the primier??

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Kharkhowa Kalita

Apr 21, 2019 08:01pm

What is a brother country?

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Md. Asghar

Apr 21, 2019 08:04pm

The all around cooperation between Iran and Pakistan is essential for the welfare and security of the region suffering from the outside geopolitical mayhem.

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Raza

Apr 21, 2019 08:10pm

@Wellwisher, yeah the type with100’s of free loaders.

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hasnaat

Apr 21, 2019 08:10pm

@Wellwisher, when he said?

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whateverthismeans

Apr 21, 2019 08:23pm

@Wellwisher, so let him.

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Luke

Apr 21, 2019 08:32pm

I did not see irani rokhaani at the airport for receiving PM KHAN

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Arman

Apr 21, 2019 08:42pm

@Wellwisher, this is needed.

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Vikram

Apr 21, 2019 08:56pm

Always , always give peace a chance

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naji

Apr 21, 2019 08:57pm

Relation with Iran can be fruitful and very beneficial for Pakistan. Pakistan need to make appropriate agreement with Iran for easy border & marine trade especially from Karachi. Pakistan have lots to export to Iran, like cotton product, plastic items, machinery parts, shoes, leather products, and plenty of small good. Fruit, Banana, vegetable are demanding items in Iran.

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kamal

Apr 21, 2019 09:38pm

Is taking loan from Iran included in the agenda?

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Zak

Apr 21, 2019 09:45pm

We should start tourism between the two countries.

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Ranajyoti

Apr 21, 2019 10:06pm

@ahmed, what r those common heritages??

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Krishnan

Apr 21, 2019 10:15pm

IK has taken any JM Group with him to Iran?

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Harun

Apr 21, 2019 10:37pm

@ahmed, Our heritage is Indian and not of invaders like Arabs, Turks, Persians, Mongols or Afghans!

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Rashid

Apr 21, 2019 10:47pm

Iran wants to connect Chabahar with Gwadar.

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Dreader

Apr 21, 2019 10:48pm

PM should pursue the Iran-Pak. gas pipeline. It is already completed on the Iran side. Only Pak. portion, which is a few hundred km, from the main Sui pipeline remains to be finished. Gas from Iran can be paid 55 % in rupees as India is already paying for Iranian oil. This would reduce pressure on current account which is now hovering around $12 - $ 14 Bn this fiscal year.

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Bikram Singh Thappa

Apr 21, 2019 10:54pm

Received by Governor General and not by the premier.

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Jamil M Chaudr

Apr 21, 2019 11:27pm

There is a need for a new Protocol between Iran and Pakistan. Each country (Pakistan and Iran) will invite the newly placed Head of the other State for a OFFICIAL/State Visit, within one month of the latters taking of office.

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Shan

Apr 21, 2019 11:29pm

Imran Khan’s legacy will be judged if he is able to unite the Muslims. I play so that he succeeds.

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Anwar Syed. St.Louis, MO. USA

Apr 21, 2019 11:30pm

I wish his trip will be very successful. Iran is our neighbor and a Muslim brother country. There should be a Free trade and NO visa for Iran. Actually Pakistan should try to make a Muslim block Free trade Zone and No visas

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Abbas shah

Apr 21, 2019 11:32pm

Pray for the success of Our PM Visit to Iran in establishing of very close relationship a very historic neighbour &rich in oil&gas &culture also.

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AJITH KUMAR REDDY

Apr 21, 2019 11:51pm

Imran Khan is capable of bringing peace in western border .... all the best

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mishra

Apr 22, 2019 12:56am

@Dreader, the arrangement between India and Iran is only because Iran imports a lot of items from India.

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Pak-uk

Apr 22, 2019 01:30am

Great.. Iran is our brother country.. must strengthen relations.

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azam khan

Apr 22, 2019 01:38am

@Wellwisher, senseless comment.

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Habib A. Zuberi, Phd retired prof of Econ.

Apr 22, 2019 01:50am

Historical close ties between Pakistan and Iran should be further strengthened. More economic relations between the two countries will be very good for both. Try to re-establish the ties that existed when there was an alliance between Turkey,Iran and Pakistan. All three countries benefitted.

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Habib A. Zuberi, Phd retired prof of Econ.

Apr 22, 2019 01:50am

@ahmed, yes, a very good suggestion.

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marcus

Apr 22, 2019 02:03am

Iran is two faced let them sink....this has nothing to do with religion. They spport india over pakistan anyday.

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AKB

Apr 22, 2019 03:23am

Nothing good should be expected out of this visit however it is good on the part of PM Imran Khan to have been committed to maintain good relations with all the countries.

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murli

Apr 22, 2019 05:10am

@Wellwisher, Useless trip like that of Sharif brothers to UK. This is a state visit.

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hussain

Apr 22, 2019 05:26am

@Ranajyoti, language, culture, religion, and cuisine.

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Naveed Kureshi

Apr 22, 2019 05:36am

Strange that the Foreign Minister is not accompanying him on this trip!

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Zaheer

Apr 22, 2019 06:19am

Totally waste of time. Not sure why pakistani are teying to have good relations with them...no benefits at all.

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Farukh

Apr 22, 2019 07:18am

So Iran’s present didn’t receive him at the airport???

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Faraz

Apr 22, 2019 07:36am

Iran is a very complicated situation.

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Habib A. Zuberi, Phd retired prof of Econ.

Apr 22, 2019 05:57pm

Good start. Hope they renewed good relations as they had before.

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