Pezeshkian’s Islamabad visit is a testament to Pakistan’s growing diplomatic clout and Iran’s strategic resilience. More than a ceremonial handshake, it reflects a region turning the page from confrontation to cooperation, proving that the East is no longer waiting for history—it is shaping it.
A new united front has been proposed during this visit to challenge the traditional hegemonic aims of foreign powers – paving a completely new direction. As per a famous Chinese proverb, “When the winds of change blow, some build walls and others build bridges.” This visit by the Iranian leadership to Pakistan could be considered the first step towards building solid new bridges.
Pakistan’s Emerging Role as a Regional Bridge
“Pakistan is not only Iran’s neighbour but also its brother and close friend” (Masoud Pezeshkian)
We can safely assume that the first purpose of this visit was for Iran to show gratitude to Pakistan for its full support during times of conflict. To the Iranians, Pakistan and India were both potential trading partners that Iran would switch between during different circumstances. But now the equation has changed. In early March, during the US-Iran conflict, India invited Iran for a naval exercise, and on the way back, the US bombed the Iranian ship. Iran was outraged and noted that the Iranian ship was India’s ‘guest’. This has seemingly soured the relations between the two for now. On the other hand, Pakistan emerged as a credible and reliable mediator, bridging gaps between conflicting players beyond its own region.
The second purpose could be a goodwill gesture by Iran to further solidify Pakistan’s role in regional diplomacy and help increase its political stature in global politics.
Pakistan and Iran have traversed through a very tough and precarious situation where, during the times of extreme hostilities, rivals were continuously propagating fake agendas against Pakistan’s mediation. For example, at a time when Trump was threatening to bomb Iran, the US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham started questioning Pakistan’s role, stating that ‘Pakistan’s role is sceptical, as it is secretly hosting Iranian jets on its soil’.
Despite all this, Pakistan, alongside Qatar, became successful in concluding the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran. Pezeshkian acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and stated, “The signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding became possible because of Iran’s trust in Pakistan.”
Reimagining Pakistan-Iran Economic Cooperation
“It is great to have diplomatic relations, but its true value is reflected in concrete results.”
The most crucial part of this visit can be regarded as a kind of ‘renewal’ of the bilateral ties that exist between the two states, which encompass trade, connectivity, energy cooperation, and regional stability. As Iran is getting sanctions relief from the US, both Pakistan and Iran now want to fully utilise these opportunities. The Pak-Iran gas pipeline is its prime example. If American sanctions are completely lifted and a permanent peace deal is signed, this project could be revived. In the same spirit, the US has granted a two-month waiver to Iran with respect to its oil exports, which could really get things going.
Moreover, Iranian frozen assets are also under consideration to be released. The current Pak-Iran trade volume is just $3 billion. If the situation goes peacefully, this volume could be increased to around $10-12 billion. Pezeshkian was accompanied by a large number of Iranian officials, including trade, energy, and transport ministers, which clearly shows that both Pakistan and Iran are now setting a long-term bilateral as well as multilateral equation. Moreover, CPEC and BRI were also a vital part of these talks. This meeting revolved around a large variety of topics, ranging from border security to trade routes and military-to-military cooperation.
A New United Front: A Muslim Nato?
Iranian President Pezeshkian has presented a historic proposal for a new regional security architecture. According to him, all Muslim countries in the region should come together as a united front, halt any further foreign interventions, and resolve regional matters on their own. Remember that this is the same proposal given by both the Russian president and the Chinese president. Both major powers have already been contending for a cohesive regional architecture where regional entities should take the first seat. Pezeshkian explicitly stated, “We stretch our hands of friendship to establish a common understanding and build a new security structure for the countries in the region. I believe Muslims shall form a united front against their enemies.” This idea is basically pointing towards the formation of an ‘Islamic NATO.’ According to Samyar Rostami, a political observer and senior researcher in international relations, “Perhaps the idea of an Islamic NATO will be formed with two-by-two coalitions and eventually lead to the creation of a larger coalition.”
The major hurdle in this regard is the attitude of Gulf countries, which are still hosting American bases on their soil. Some of the Middle Eastern countries, like the UAE, are also getting closer to Israel. During the 108 days of the US-Iran war, the UAE became the most active player against Iran in the region, even more than Israel. Critical of this, while beseeching the Muslim countries, Pezeshkian commented, “Peace, stability, sustainable security, development, and the welfare of nations in the strategic region of West Asia and the Persian Gulf can only be ensured through straightforward and honest discussions, intra-regional cooperation, interactions, and cooperation based on mutual respect for the countries in the region.”
Iran’s Victory is East’s Victory
The East is not rising; it has risen. The resiliency and resistance of the Iranian nation, which not only curbed Israeli influence in the region but also humiliated the so-called superpower of the world, were proven. This victory is not solely Iranian; it’s the victory of the East and the South. It’s the victory of China and Russia. Simply put, if the US can’t fight a sanctioned and isolated Iran, then confrontation with China and Russia is beyond imagination. The Iranian victory has not only altered the regional security landscape but also compelled the world to realise the importance of strategic autonomy.
Moreover, the peace deal also puts Iran in a stronger position than before. For example, when it comes to Iranian ballistic missiles, which were previously a thorn in the US’s side, President Trump has now stated that ‘if others can have the ballistic missiles in the region, then why not Iran?’ Even Pakistan’s PM stated, “I would say with the fullest command of my domain that this MoU does not mention ballistic missiles. It was never on the table, it was never on the agenda, and the Iranian side never even wanted to discuss it. So that is not an impression; that is a fact of the matter.” This is a blunt retreat from Trump’s previous demands, which included a complete halt to the Iranian ballistic missile program. This shows that Iran has not only emerged victorious on the battlefield; it also has an upper hand on the negotiation table.
Conclusion
The 21st century’s geopolitical circumstances have showcased a very interesting development: small nations are now able to confront much larger countries in the conventional domain, something that previously seemed impossible. The May 2025 Indo-Pak conflict and the recent US-Iran conflict are its best manifestations. One’s performance on the battlefield now defines one’s future political status in the international arena. If Pakistan and Qatar continue their current trajectory of mediation and diplomatic partnerships, the region could enter a new era. A new chapter lies ahead, characterised by increased diplomatic interactions, greater economic interlinking, and security cooperation. It is indeed a new chapter in regional diplomacy, and the next task is to fill in the rest of the details in the book.
Aleena Im is an independent researcher and writer and is interested in international relations and current affairs
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