ISLAMABAD, Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (WNP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday accorded a warm welcome to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, describing him as a visionary, sagacious and compassionate leader whose wisdom, patience and statesmanship have played a vital role in advancing peace and stability in the region.

Addressing a joint ceremony held in honour of the visiting Iranian President, Prime Minister Shehbaz began his remarks with a Persian couplet and said it was a matter of profound honour and immense pleasure to welcome his “dear brother” to Pakistan.

“The world knows you, and so do we, as a visionary and sagacious leader of the great nation of Iran,” the Prime Minister said. “You are blessed with remarkable qualities. You are calm, wise and patient. Alongside your political leadership, you have also devoted your life to serving humanity through medicine and healing the sick. I congratulate you on your achievements and pray for your continued success.”

The Prime Minister described the occasion as a historic moment in Pakistan-Iran relations and praised the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (Islamabad MoU), which he said had helped avert a conflict that could have engulfed not only the region but also posed serious consequences for global peace and stability.

He noted that the understanding, signed by Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and United States President Donald J. Trump, with Pakistan serving as an honest and sincere mediator, had opened the door to meaningful dialogue and confidence-building measures.

“Alhamdulillah, through your sagacious leadership, the dedication of your colleagues and Pakistan’s sincere mediation efforts, this Memorandum of Understanding was signed. It subsequently led to the first round of technical-level talks in Bürgenstock, Switzerland,” he remarked.

Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed optimism that the agreement would pave the way for a new era of peace, cooperation and prosperity.

“We pray to Almighty Allah that this historic understanding will usher in a new chapter of peace, stability and prosperity for the entire region and beyond,” he added.

Paying tribute to the leadership and people of Iran, the Prime Minister praised their resilience, unity and steadfastness during challenging times.

“The Iranian nation has demonstrated extraordinary courage, dignity and unity in the face of adversity. Their resilience and determination have earned the respect and admiration of the entire Muslim world,” he said.

He also expressed heartfelt condolences over the loss of precious lives during the recent crisis and assured the Iranian people of Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity.

“The people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with their Iranian brothers and sisters. Your joy is our joy and your sorrow is our sorrow,” he said.

Reaffirming the deep-rooted ties between the two countries, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan and Iran shared centuries-old bonds of faith, history, culture and civilization that transcend ordinary neighbourly relations.

“Pakistan and Iran are far more than neighbours; we are brothers bound together by common values, shared history and enduring mutual respect. Iran’s success is our success and Iran’s loss is our loss,” he said.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Iranian leadership for placing its trust in Pakistan to facilitate and mediate the peace process.

“Pakistan remains thankful to the leadership of Iran for reposing confidence in us. We undertook this responsibility with complete sincerity, honesty and dedication to the cause of peace,” he remarked.

He commended both the Iranian and American delegations for their constructive engagement during the talks held in Switzerland and acknowledged the support of several regional and international partners who contributed to the diplomatic breakthrough.

Prime Minister Shehbaz paid special tribute to Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for his pivotal role in supporting the peace process. He also thanked Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt for their encouragement and support throughout the negotiations.

The Prime Minister said the collective efforts of regional leaders demonstrated a shared commitment to peace, dialogue and prosperity.

Highlighting Pakistan’s contribution to the peace initiative, Prime Minister Shehbaz paid glowing tribute to Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

“I would like to pay special tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. His untiring efforts, unwavering commitment, steadfast resolve and complete faith in Almighty Allah were instrumental in building the consensus that made this historic breakthrough possible,” he said.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the contributions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Interior Minister Senator Mohsin Naqvi for their dedicated efforts in advancing the peace process.

Referring to his discussions with President Pezeshkian, Prime Minister Shehbaz described the talks as warm, candid and reflective of the unique brotherly relationship between the two nations.

“Our discussions were like a family reunion, where brothers spoke openly and honestly with a shared commitment to strengthening our fraternal ties and working together for a better future,” he said.

He emphasized that Pakistan and Iran had always stood by each other during difficult times and recent developments had once again demonstrated the strength of their friendship, partnership and mutual trust.

Thanking President Pezeshkian for accepting Pakistan’s invitation, the Prime Minister announced that he would visit Tehran in the coming days at the invitation of the Iranian President to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and reaffirm Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of Iran.

Concluding his remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening relations with Iran and expressed confidence that both countries would continue working together for regional peace, economic cooperation, connectivity and shared prosperity.

“Long live the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Iran,” the Prime Minister declared.