Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Iran today to attend the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The premier will subsequently travel to Turkiye, highlighting Pakistan’s heightened diplomatic stature in the Middle East after successfully brokering peace following a prolonged US-Iran war.
The Foreign Office announced on Thursday that the official visits to the two nations will span from July 3 to July 5. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with federal ministers and senior officials, are accompanying the prime minister on the tour.
During the stay in Tehran, the prime minister will formally convey condolences to the Iranian leadership and the bereaved family on behalf of Pakistan.
The visit serves to express solidarity with the nation following the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes earlier this year.
The prime minister will then proceed to Istanbul at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The leadership-level discussions will focus heavily on regional peace, security, and the expansion of bilateral economic collaboration.
The prime minister is also scheduled to address a Pakistan-Turkiye Business Conference during the visit to Istanbul.
