Pakistan's Role in Iran's Foreign Policy

The second round of regional trips by Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, a month after the Vienna nuclear agreement, indicates Iran's efforts to clarify its positions for countries that recognize the necessity of deepening relations with Iran in line with their own interests. While the main focus of discussions in the first round of these trips was the nuclear agreement, this round centers on regional issues and the examination of topics of mutual interest. Pakistan, Iran's eastern neighbor, which has significant influence in Afghanistan and good relations with Saudi Arabia, was the next stop for Mohammad Javad Zarif in his second round of regional travels. He arrived in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on Thursday morning, August 22, and told reporters that he would discuss "Yemen, Afghanistan, and some other regional countries facing challenges" with officials from this country. According to IRNA, during a meeting with Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Iranian Foreign Minister announced Iran's readiness to strengthen relations with Pakistan in all areas, especially energy, electricity, gas, oil, and trade, banking, economic, security, border control, and combating terrorism. Zarif then met and discussed with Sartaj Aziz, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, and in a joint press conference after this meeting, he mentioned that regional problems and the joint efforts of both countries to combat extremism and insecurity resulting from terrorist attacks in the region, as well as economic cooperation, were among the topics discussed. IRNA reports that Iran and Pakistan also emphasized the need for serious reciprocal steps, especially in developing economic relations in the new conditions following the nuclear agreement and the potential lifting of sanctions. Zarif's one-day visit to Pakistan also included meetings with Raza Rabbani, the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Speaker of the National Assembly, as well as a speech at a session of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Pakistani Parliament. The Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to Pakistan comes at a time when this country, as a friend of Saudi Arabia, has positions aligned with the policies of this country in the region. Especially now that the issue of Yemen and Iran's support for the Houthi rebels has become a battleground for rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan's stance towards these two countries is of particular importance. Mohammad Reza Heydari, former Iranian consul in Oslo, Norway, discusses the goals Iran pursues in deepening relations with Pakistan, stating: "When Saudi Arabia sought to create a coalition against the Houthis in Yemen, it aimed to bring Pakistan into its ranks, but the policies pursued by the Islamic Republic and Zarif's visit to Pakistan ultimately led to the Pakistani Parliament voting against this issue, effectively strengthening Iran's position to rely on Pakistan in matters concerning this country, especially in the economic aspect, gas discussions, and I can add that Iran's nuclear issue and its advancements in this field are due to the assistance provided by the Abdul Qadeer Khan network, and during my time at the Foreign Ministry, we saw that the Islamic Republic utilized Pakistani elements and scientists to advance its nuclear agenda and even in connection with uranium purchases and other matters. This is a point that Iran does not want to lose Pakistan, but in terms of the Taliban and the Afghanistan issue, both are rivals and seek to establish a stronger foothold in Afghanistan." Afghanistan, which is another topic of discussion for the Iranian Foreign Minister with Pakistani officials, shares borders with both countries and faces extensive security crises. In his current regional trip, prior to his visit to Islamabad, the Iranian Foreign Minister visited Beirut and then Damascus on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. He will leave Islamabad for New Delhi on Thursday evening.