Iran’s Interior Minister Iskandar Momeni arrives in Islamabad

Iran’s Interior Minister Iskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday along with a high-level delegation amid renewed tensions in the Middle East.

The visit came amid heightened regional tensions after the US and Iran exchanged strikes, with Washington targeting sites in Iran and Tehran’s forces retaliating against US military assets in the region. The US and Iran signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding last month to end their conflict and reach a lasting peace deal, but tensions have escalated again.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed his Iranian counterpart at the airport, while Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry presented Momeni with a bouquet. Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam was also present on the occasion.

Naqvi welcomed Momeni and expressed hope that his visit would bring positive developments and help further strengthen bilateral relations.

“Your visit to Pakistan will promote bilateral relations. Progress is also expected in the regional situation,” Naqvi said.

Momeni said he was happy to meet Naqvi again and described relations between the two countries as strong.

“Pakistan and Iran’s relationship is unparalleled,” Momeni said.

The Iranian minister said he had always appreciated the hospitality of the Pakistani government and people.

During his visit, Momeni is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The Iranian delegation includes the Governor General of Sistan-Baluchistan, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Interior, Deputy Minister of Urban Development and Transport, head of the National Iranian Oil Company, a special representative of the Minister of Agriculture and other senior officials.

According to Anatoliareferring to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIBMomeni is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Naqvi to promote bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad.

The Iranian government said in a statement on X that the visit was aimed at increasing border security and bilateral cooperation in transit and agriculture and was in line with the goal of increasing trade from $3 billion. to $10 billion.

“After his visit to Pakistan, Momeni will travel to New Delhi, India, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, to attend the BRICS meeting of ministers on disaster management, focusing on disaster risk reduction,” it said.