Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Travel to Iran for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s Funeral Prayer

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Iran and Türkiye on Thursday, according to Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi.

The spokesperson said the prime minister will attend the funeral prayer of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and several members of the federal cabinet will accompany him during the visit.

The Foreign Office also confirmed that Iran and the United States have agreed during talks in Doha to continue negotiations in the coming days. The next round of discussions is expected to be scheduled soon after the funeral and burial ceremonies of the former Iranian Supreme Leader.

According to the spokesperson, Pakistani and Qatari mediators held separate meetings with Iranian and U.S. negotiators in Doha, where positive progress was made on matters related to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Reiterating Pakistan’s longstanding position, the spokesperson once again expressed concern over the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities.

Responding to a question regarding a reported letter sent by prominent Pakistani and Indian personalities to the prime ministers of both countries, the spokesperson said the Government of Pakistan could neither confirm the report nor comment on it.