Tehran contended with Pakistan's position on Iran-US crisis

ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Friday that he was happy that “Pakistan understands our position … and considers US pressure on Iran as unjustified.”

During an interview with Iranian newswire IRNA, Mr. Zarif, who was on a two-day visit to Pakistan to discuss the soaring tensions between his country and the US, said after meeting with the country’s leadership, he can say that Pakis­tan was convinced that the pressure being exerted on Iran by the United States was unjustified.

The Iranian foreign minister, who was on his 10th visit to Pakistan since assuming office six years ago, met Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa.

The Iranian foreign minister led his side at delegation level talks with Pakistani officials at the Foreign Office in Islamabad yesterday where, Foreign Minister Qureshi told his counterpart that Pakistan will keep up its re-conciliatory efforts to ensure peace and stability and reduce tensions in the region.

“Tension in the region is in no one’s interest,” he added.

Qureshi said Pakistan wants resolution of all outstanding issues through diplomatic engagement, urging all the stakeholders to demonstrate restraint and tolerance.