Pakistan backs up iran nuclear programme

Defence affairs analysis

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan firmly stands with Iran's principled stance. He prayed for the swift recovery of the Iranian brothers and sisters injured during the war.

Addressing a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan warmly welcomes the Iranian President and his delegation on their first-ever visit to Pakistan. The prime minister extended greetings on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan.

He noted that Iran’s President brought a heartfelt message for the people of Pakistan, and during his visit, both leaders held comprehensive discussions on religious, cultural, and geographical matters.

The prime minister said that Pakistan and Iran signed several MoUs today, which will soon be transformed into formal agreements. The two countries have set a trade target of $10 billion. The prime minister affirmed that Pakistan and Iran share the same stance on counterterrorism and that any form of terrorism is unacceptable.

He added that Iran has every right to acquire nuclear power under the UN Charter. Pakistan supports Iran’s legitimate rights in this regard.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also prayed for the martyrs of the war and praised the bravery of the Iranian military and people, saying their missile strikes exposed Israel’s defence system. He emphasized that there was no justification for Israel’s aggression against Iran, and Pakistan’s 240 million people strongly condemned it.