ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri-Moghaddam said here on Tuesday that Pakistan and Iran enjoy close ties and share aligned positions on numerous regional and international issues, including the question of Palestine.

He was speaking at a conference titled, Pakistan-Iran Relations: An enduring Partnership in a Changing Region, organised by the Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East and Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

Mr Moghaddam noted that terrorism and separatist movements are serious challenges, which required enhanced cooperation and coordination between the two neighbours.

The Iranian ambassador said that collaboration between the two countries has been reinforced through regional engagement, mutual diplomatic suppo­­rt, and common membership in importa­­nt multilateral platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Or­­­ganisation of Islamic Cooperation, Eco­­nomic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), and the Developing Eight Orga­nisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8).

He said that currently, relations bet­ween the two countries are experiencing one of their most constructive phases.

The exchange of more than 25 high-level delegations over the past two years, along with the signing of 25 agreements and memoranda of understanding across diverse sectors, reflects the upward trajectory of cooperation and the shared recognition of the strategic importance of bilateral relations.

Two presidential visits from Iran within this period, in addition to visits by the speaker of Parliament, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, foreign ministers, and other senior officials, underscore the depth and dynamism of mutual interaction, Mr Moghaddam said.

He said that Iran-Pakistan relations rest upon a solid foundation of shared history, cultural affinity, and common strategic interests.

He said the two neighbouring countries share a long common border and together represent a population of nearly 350 million people. Robust people-to-people ties, a strategically significant geographic location, substantial complementary, and non-competitive economic structures create extensive opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion, retired Ambassador Khalid Mahmood said Iran’s support for Pakistan during the 1965 and 1971 wars was a testament to their close ties.

There have been difficult phases in the relationship, which have strained the relationship at times, but now the two countries are closer to each other than ever before, although challenges remain, like terrorism and sectarianism.

Dr Amina Khan said that Pakistan and Iran share a long-standing bilateral relationship grounded in historical ties, geographic proximity, and intertwined security and economic interests.

In recent years, she said bilateral relations have remained positive and forward-looking, characterised by sustained high-level engagement, close coordination on regional and international developments and commitments to the principle of sovereign equality.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2026