“Our neighbors, our priority” – Iranian foreign minister on a regional tour to strengthen neighborly ties

Faced with increasing US pressures after Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has been looking to the expansion of its regional partnerships as a way to preserve its national interests. Iranian foreign minister’s recent trip to Turkey and Pakistan should be seen in this context.

کد خبر: ۸۲۹۵۷۱

تاریخ: ۰۸ شهريور ۱۳۹۷ - ۲۱:۴۵

Tabnak – Faced with increasing US pressures after Washington’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran has been looking to the expansion of its regional partnerships as a way to preserve its national interests. Iranian foreign minister’s recent trip to Turkey and Pakistan should be seen in this context.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif travelled to Islamabad to meet Pakistan’s new prime minister, after what he called “fruitful consultations” in Turkey for weighing up joint action against the US hostile policies and sanctions against Tehran and Ankara.

In a message on his Twitter account on Wednesday night, Zarif said he has finished “fruitful consultations” with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Zarif said his visit to Turkey and the political meetings revolved around Tehran-Ankara bilateral relations and regional cooperation in the face of malign US behavior. Zarif paid an unannounced visit to Ankara on Wednesday and met President Erdogan at the central office of the Justice and Development Party.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Ankara, Zarif took a swipe at the US government for sanctions against Iran and Turkey, saying Americans proved that they see no limits to their push for pressure on the other countries and making concessions. “Our friends in Turkey and many US allies in Europe have come to the conclusion that the United Sates is not a reliable partner,” Zarif noted.

After his meetings in Ankara, the top Iranian diplomat announced plans for a visit to Pakistan on Thursday to meet new Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying that “Our neighbors our priority.”

Upon arrival in the Pakistani capital on Thursday, Zarif held a meeting with the country's newly-elected National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, with the two officials exchanging views on issues of common interest.

During the meeting, Zarif praised brotherly relations between the two neighbors and called for closer Tehran-Islamabad cooperation under the new administration of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Iran seeks "the best and strongest of ties with its neighbor, Pakistan," Zarif told the Pakistani parliament head.

The top Iranian diplomat further hailed Islamabad for taking measures to promote the fight against terrorism, saying, "We see Pakistan as Iran's partner [in efforts] to establish lasting peace in the region."

Qaiser, in turn, called for a stronger unity among Muslim countries, saying that Pakistan attaches great significance to neighboring Iran in line with that goal. The two senior officials also explored ways to promote Tehran-Islamabad ties at regional and international levels in various fields, especially the battle against terrorism and extremism.

Zarif and the officials accompanying him became the first foreign delegation to visit Pakistan since the inauguration of Imran Khan. During his two-day stay, the Iranian foreign minister is slated to sit down with high-ranking Pakistani officials, including Imran Khan, his counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa.