PNN – Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif emphasized that he has never commented on the missile capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and that this issue has never had and does not have a place in Iran-US negotiations or in Islamabad’s memorandum of understanding.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; On Tuesday night, at the end of his joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezishkiyan, Shahbaz Sharif responded to the question, Have you made any comments in the Pakistani parliament about Iran’s missile programs or their review in the ongoing negotiations, because Iran has never compromised on its missile programs and will not hold any talks? He said: I gave a short speech in the Pakistani parliament yesterday and congratulated the people of Pakistan there that with the help of God Almighty, we were able to achieve a success by signing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the three countries.
We were able to achieve a breakthrough by signing a memorandum of understanding between the three countries, which was signed by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezishkiyan, in Tehran, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, in France, and myself in Islamabad as the mediator of this document.
He added: I invited the Islamic President of Iran to come to Islamabad and all the people of Pakistan are very happy with his presence and welcomed him warmly.
Shahbaz Sharif continued: Regarding ballistic missiles, I must say unequivocally that the issue of ballistic missiles has never been discussed between Iran and the United States and was not an option on the table. It is not mentioned in the memorandum of understanding at all and there is no ambiguity in this regard.
The Pakistani Prime Minister said: Moreover, if I were to say, if Iran, as our neighboring country, has ballistic missiles for defensive purposes, there are many countries around the world that have stockpiled missiles, so why should we object to Iran having ballistic missiles?
He clarified: Raising this issue will only cause delays and problems and raise questions for the parties involved.
The Pakistani Prime Minister added: So I am saying here with certainty that the ballistic missile was not part of the understanding between Iran and the United States, it was not on the table and it is not on the agenda of the two countries.
He continued: I must say this as a warning that there are countries all over the world that want to destroy this agreement that has been reached. These countries are very disappointed and upset about the agreement that has been reached between Iran and the other country, and they know that a ceasefire between the two countries will lead to peace and prosperity for Iran and the other parties, and these countries that are seeking sabotage are seeking to create doubts and doubts, but I and my dear brother, Mr. Masoud Pezishkiyan, and the people of the two countries have a very strong will to give a strong answer to these countries that want to destroy the relations between us and this great success that has been achieved.
Shahbaz Sharif said during a joint press conference with the Islamic President of Iran: The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding will take the form of an agreement and new avenues for development will be opened.
He stated that there are no shortage of elements in the world who are dissatisfied with the progress made by the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Shahbaz Sharif added: Pakistan and Iran will prove to be an iron wall against those who destroy peace in the region.
The Pakistani Prime Minister, while reciting poems in Persian, stressed his commitment to close relations with Iran and said that he is a friend of those who join hands in difficult times.
He expressed his satisfaction with the visit of the Islamic President of Iran and his accompanying delegation to Pakistan and described his talks with Pezishkiyan as a very fruitful and pleasant conversation.
Shahbaz Sharif said that the meeting was like a family gathering, where brothers spoke to each other with complete frankness and firm determination that we will make our brotherly relations stronger than ever.
The Pakistani Prime Minister added that the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezishkiyan, is a great statesman from a great country and the President of Iran, as a doctor, has also made great contributions to society.
He expressed satisfaction over the end of the war between Iran and the United States and said that Pakistan, as a mediator, had made sincere efforts for the peace process. The technical talks in Bürgenstock were also of great importance.
Shahbaz Sharif expressed hope that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding would be transformed into an agreement and new avenues for development would be opened.
The Pakistani Prime Minister praised the visionary leadership of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, and said that the Iranian nation had shown exemplary courage and unity during the crisis.
He expressed his condolences to the Iranian nation and government for the loss of hundreds of precious lives in the war, adding that the martyrdom of the martyred leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was also a great loss.
The Pakistani Prime Minister also announced that he would travel to Tehran next week to pay tribute to the martyred leader of the revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and to reiterate Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of Iran.
He added that there are no shortage of elements in the world who are deeply disappointed with this ceasefire, which could lead to lasting peace and prosperity, and who want to create unnecessary suspicion and chaos.
Shahbaz Sharif emphasized that President Pezishkiyan and I are fully determined to stand like an iron wall against these elements.
After a reporter asked the Pakistani Prime Minister a question at a joint press conference, Iranian President Masoud Pezishkiyan said: Our missile issue is not in the memorandum of understanding we had and will never be.
The Iranian President added: If our missiles, which are for our own defense, did not exist, the Israeli and American regimes would have plowed Iran like Gaza and shown no mercy to the young or old. They only talk about human rights, but this claim of theirs is a big lie.
Pezishkiyan continued: If we could not defend ourselves, they would definitely not have mercy on our country and would destroy our power.
He clarified: As a result, we will never, ever discuss our defense capabilities with anyone.
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezishkiyan, arrived in Islamabad at the head of a high-ranking delegation of our country’s officials for a one-day visit and upon arrival, he was officially welcomed by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.