PM Shehbaz to attend inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president next week

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Tehran on July 30 to participate in the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s newly elected President, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, according to an announcement from the Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday.

During a press briefing, FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch revealed that the prime minister's attendance is at the invitation of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament.

"The visit underscores the commitment of both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation and engage at the leadership level," the spokesperson stated.

The inauguration ceremony for Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, who recently won Iran’s presidential election, will take place on July 30, 2024.

Pakistan has also announced the implementation of a strict "one-document regime" at its borders with Afghanistan, permitting entry only with a visa and passport.

After prolonged protests and multiple negotiations regarding travel regulations at the Pakistan-Afghan border, an agreement was reached between traders, locals in Chaman, and government officials.

Following successful talks over the weekend, the border crossing was reopened with some eased travel restrictions. However, officials firmly refused to reverse the "one-document regime" that has been in place since October last year.

During her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated, “The one-document regime will be enforced, and no foreigner will be allowed to enter Pakistan without proper documents.”

In response to a query about a potential request from the US ambassador in Pakistan to meet with imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan, the spokesperson said, “We will handle such a request in accordance with Pakistan’s laws and Constitution.”