Report Tazeen Akhtar + Shehzad Shafi with Camera Raja Ghulam Farid
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan, H.E Dr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam has said , the wars for power are on the corridors now that who have the best access to corridors linking the regions and continents. Iran Pakistan corridors are the best in the world. This is what , where we can cooperate with the world and empower ourselves.
The Ambassador expressed these views in his keynote address at a forum on ” Pakistan Iran Connectivity ! For Two Countries & Two Continents” at the Center of Pakistan and International Relations COPAIR in collaboration with “Pakistan in the World” media group on 03 Oct 2025 in Islamabad.
Dr. Moghaddam said, Promotion of trade and businesses is must for defence and security. Our borders were security borders but now they are economic , trade borders. Iran connects Pakistan to Turkiye , Azerbaijan and beyond to Europe and Eurasia. If we develop our corridors , we will even more able to cooperate between ourselves. Iran supports Pakistani membership in BRICS.
He said, Chah e Bahar is not the rival but complementary port for Gwadar. Showing Chah e Bahaar as the rival of Gwadar is a conspiracy theory based upon the propaganda of the enemies and a parochial approach based upon zero knowledge of geopolitics and know how the mega economics works.
He said, we are working on all means of connectivity including land, railway, air and sea.
He recalled recent visits of President Masoud Pezeshkiyan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the highest point in bilateral cooperation while the leaders agreed to enhance the level of economic relations.
” Bilateral relations are on the highest level for the last two years as our Presidents visited Pakistan every year while PM Shehbaz visited Iran two times. They inaugurated projects at the borders. Foreign Ministers are in continuous contact on all bilateral, regional and international affairs, the Ambassador mentioned.
Dr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam stated , Iran connects East and West, North and South. We are activating Islamabad Tehran Istanbul (ITI) connections to provide ECO, Central Asia to Europe connectivity.
We share this central geographical position with Pakistan. We have common borders that help keep the transport charges on import & export less to provide the products to our people at lower prices.
Pakistan can export meat, rice, corn, livestock, and summer food to Iran. We offer petrol, construction material and other items. 50 to 60 percent of our need on different products can be traded on each side. Iran imports meat from far away countries like Newsland Definitely it is too costly with long distance transport charges.
Ambassador noted 3 main hurdles in promotion of cooperation ; 1- Terrorism on Borders 2- Lack of Banking channels 3- Red Tap (Bureaucratic procedures).
He said, despite terrorism in border areas , the cooperation is going well. Financial matters are slow but small traders are working on their own level. We are contacting big companies to come to this side. Bureaucratic hurdles are on both sides. We are trying to keep our customs open 24 hours at the border.
Dr Moghaddam shared , we are moving forward to FTA. The Iranian Ministry of Commerce is sure about remarkable development in trade within the next few months.
He said, A big exhibition is held in Spring every year in Iran. Pakistani participation in this exhibition improves every year. When I assumed the office in Islamabad 2 years ago, the trade volume was $2 Billion and now it is $3.1 Billion. Bilateral trade is increasing up to $500 to 600 Million every year.
The Ambassador was sure that , if we continue with the same pace and spirit, we can achieve the goal of bilateral trade at $10 Billion. “Important is , the understanding has been developed and approach has changed that actually will lead us to reach the target set by our leaders President Pezeshkiyan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ambassador highlighted.
He shared the steps that have been taken so far for an increase in trade. Earlier there was only one border crossing but now 3 are working. 5 border markets have been opened. Activation of the corridors will further add to the volume of trade.
On Iran’s connectivity potential, the Ambassador is looking forward to Pakistan’s access to Turkiye, Baku, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the whole Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe in the future. Similarly, Iran’s trade trucks can travel to China.
Regarding Air connectivity, Dr. Moghaddam referred to resumption of Islamabad Tehran flights after two decades and expressed the possibility of linking Lahore Tehran, Quetta Zahedan as well soon.
He discussed sea , maritime connections with emphasis on the benefits of two nearby ports of both countries that are Chah e Bahaar and Gwadar. He also mentioned the connectivity between Bandar Abbas and Karachi that has been agreed upon in the recent visit of Pakistani Minister Commerce Jaam Kamaal Khan.
On the strategic side, the Ambassador spoke highly about Pakistan’s stand in favor of Iran on the issue of the Civil Nuclear Program and Israel US attacks on Iran. Pakistan supported Iran at UNSC last month when 3 European countries tried the abuse of a dispute mechanism outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal to re-impose sanctions against Iran.
” During the 12 days war, Pakistan took it as an attack on Pakistan, and the National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan passed resolutions against attacks. Officials, media , public , all supported Iran. It seemed as if there was a revolution of support for Iran in Pakistan, Dr. Reza recalled.
The Ambassador expressed complete satisfaction on the status of relations and cooperation in the defence sector as well. He recalled the recent high level engagements of defence officials of both countries including the visit of Shaheed General Baqiri and Chiefs of Air and Naval Staff.
Field Marshal General Asim Munir visited General Staff Headquarters at Tehran in May this year and held a meeting with Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri.
Finally, H.E Dr Moghaddam said, defence cooperation is at such a level now that has no example in the past.
Earlier, in welcome address, Mr. Tazeen Akhtar refreshed the participants on the history of connectivity between the two countries from Regional Cooperation for Development RCD to Economic Cooperation Organization ECO and Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) Convention thanks to which trade trucks reached Azerbaijan from Pakistan, with the National Logistics Cell (NLC) successfully completing the first commercial run , transporting goods to Baku via Tehran.
Ms Amna Munawwar Awan, Chairperson COPAIR shed light on the present status of bilateral cooperation and the way forward. She discussed different sides of relations including the historical links, traditional bonds, mutual ties in Science , Tech and Education. She specially mentioned Tourism as one of the most promising sectors in both shapes; Ziyaarat tourism and Sightseeing tourism.
