Iran-Pakistan Rapprochement: Khamenei Cautions on India-Pakistan Tensions, Focuses on Gaza Solidarity
In a high-profile diplomatic overture, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s visit to Tehran has culminated in wide-ranging talks with Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The meetings, set against the grim backdrop of Gaza&rsquo;s ongoing devastation, offered Tehran and Islamabad an opportunity to reset their bilateral agenda while reiterating support for the Palestinian cause.
Ayatollah Khamenei, in his public remarks, centred his message on Islamic unity over Gaza, asserting that Pakistan enjoys a &ldquo;special status&rdquo; within the Muslim world. He lauded Islamabad for resisting Western pressure to normalise ties with Israel, which he denounced as a betrayal of the Palestinian people. Stressing that Palestine remains the central concern of the Islamic world, the Iranian leader lamented the silence&mdash;or worse, complicity&mdash;of some Muslim governments in the face of Israeli actions.
While Pakistan raised the issue of its recent tensions with India and the volatile situation in Kashmir, Ayatollah Khamenei struck a cautious note, offering only hope that &ldquo;disputes between India and Pakistan are resolved.&rdquo; His remarks were notably measured, a signal that Tehran is keen to maintain a careful balance in South Asia&mdash;especially with its longstanding civilisational and trade ties with India.
From New Delhi&rsquo;s perspective, this development bears close watching. Iran&rsquo;s restrained stance on Indo-Pak hostilities, coupled with its continued silence on Kashmir, may reflect an effort to avoid alienating India, with whom it shares strategic energy and infrastructural ambitions&mdash;including the crucial Chabahar port.
The Iran-Pakistan bilateral discourse covered a broad canvas. Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged the historical warmth in ties, citing Pakistan&rsquo;s support during the Iran-Iraq war. Yet, he assessed current cooperation levels as below potential. Both sides pledged to deepen political, economic, and cultural engagement, with Sharif aiming to elevate trade volumes from $2 billion to a proposed $10 billion.
Energy cooperation was a focal point. Iran&rsquo;s vast natural gas reserves and Pakistan&rsquo;s chronic energy shortages make the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline a strategic imperative, though its progress remains hindered by U.S. sanctions.
Security featured prominently in discussions, with both nations grappling with cross-border terrorism in their respective Baloch regions. Sharif assured that Pakistan would never allow its soil to be used against Iran, echoing Tehran&rsquo;s call for enhanced intelligence-sharing.
In sum, while the Tehran-Islamabad axis strengthens on Gaza and regional solidarity, Iran&rsquo;s cautious approach to India-Pakistan disputes offers New Delhi space to sustain its own complex&mdash;but vital&mdash;ties with Tehran.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif with Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

Iran, Pakistan vow Gaza solidarity, deepen ties; Khamenei urges calm on India dispute

Sharif in Tehran: Iran Hints Caution on India Tensions

Iran, Pakistan vow Gaza solidarity, deepen ties; Khamenei urges calm on India dispute

May 27, 2025 | 11:26 IST