Iran says Pakistan ties gaining greater importance

TEHRAN: Iran has described its relationship with Pakistan as increasingly important, saying Islamabad has played a significant role as a mediator since the outbreak of the regional conflict.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the two neighbouring countries were maintaining close diplomatic contacts. He also confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had been invited to visit Islamabad.

Baghaei said the two officials would travel to Pakistan at a suitable time. He did not announce a specific date for the visit.

He described reciprocal visits between the two countries as a natural part of their growing bilateral relationship.

The Iranian official also played down concerns that the recently signed defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye was aimed at Tehran.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on August 7. The agreement seeks to strengthen collective defence cooperation and provides for a joint response if any member comes under attack.

Baghaei said Tehran did not consider the agreement a direct threat to Iran. He said regional countries were increasingly seeking security arrangements based on their own regional realities rather than relying entirely on external powers.

He maintained that regional cooperation could contribute to stability if such arrangements remained inclusive and focused on preventing conflict.

Baghaei also said Iran was not prepared to resume direct negotiations with the United States while Tehran believed Washington was violating an interim agreement.

The Iranian government has also linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a number of demands. These include compensation for damage caused during the conflict and an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.

Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are continuing discussions on arrangements for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Baghaei said the talks were progressing in a constructive manner. He said the two sides had reached an understanding on a proposed map for shipping traffic and were working on several technical details.

According to the Iranian official, the proposed arrangement would establish mechanisms for safer maritime movement. It would also address environmental protection and maritime crimes.

He stressed that the discussions with Oman were focused on ensuring safe international shipping and were separate from broader political disputes.

Baghaei nevertheless reiterated that Tehran would not allow the full reopening of the strategic waterway unless its conditions concerning Washington were addressed.

In a separate development, Iran has appointed former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohsen Rezaei to a senior position in the Supreme National Security Council.

Rezaei has replaced Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr as secretary of the body responsible for coordinating Iran’s security and foreign policy.

No official reason was immediately given for the change. It also remains unclear whether the appointment will lead to any major shift in Iran’s security policy.

Rezaei, 71, commanded the Revolutionary Guards from 1981 to 1997. He later served for more than two decades as secretary of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council and also held the position of vice president for economic affairs.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council brings together senior military, intelligence and government officials. It is formally chaired by the president, while the supreme leader retains ultimate authority over major state matters.

A separate decree appointed Rezaei as the supreme leader’s representative on the council. Zolqadr was instead named as a political adviser.

The developments come as Iran faces heightened regional tensions and continues efforts to manage its relations with neighbouring countries and major international powers.