Prime Minister Imran Khan in a meeting with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. — PM Office
He said that Muslim ummah faces numerous challenges internally and from the outside. "It is important to articulate a message of unity and solidarity among the Muslim nations," the premier added.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office on the Tehran visit, the premier during his meeting with Khamenei "reaffirmed his resolve to comprehensively upgrade Pakistan-Iran relations".
"He also apprised the Supreme Leader of his initiative for regional peace and security," the statement added.
Meeting with Rouhani
In his meeting with the Iranian president, the prime minister "highlighted the historic ties and the tradition of close cooperation between the two countries", said the Prime Minister's Office.
The premier voiced his commitment to further strengthen ties between the two countries in diverse areas, "with a particular focus on enhanced trade and economic cooperation".
"Close cooperative ties with Iran have always been a priority for Pakistan," the statement quoted the prime minister as saying.
While discussing the security situation in the region, the prime minister underscored the need for "avoidance of military conflict and constructive engagement of all parties".
Pakistan's readiness to "extend full facilitation of efforts for de-escalation of tensions and resolution of differences and disputes through political and diplomatic means" was also conveyed by the premier to the Iranian president.
Arrival in Tehran
Earlier, both leaders held "wide-ranging consultations" during the meeting, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's official Twitter account said.
"Pakistan attaches high importance to bilateral ties with Iran," the prime minister was quoted as saying by the PTI. "Pakistan is willing to play its role towards strengthening peace and stability in the region."
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and other officials were also present during the meeting.
The prime minsiter also held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who had received the premier upon arrival.
The Foreign Office, in a statement issued on Saturday, said that Prime Minister Imran was undertaking the visit to Tehran "as part of his initiative to promote peace and security in the region".
This is Prime Minister Imran's second visit to Iran this year. In April, he undertook a two-day official trip on President Rouhani's invitation.
PM's 'initiative' for peace
Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have worsened in the aftermath of an attack on the world's biggest crude oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia on September 14. Saudi Arabia blamed the attack on Tehran but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in an interview with CBS program "60 Minutes", had said that a war with Iran will be catastrophic for the global economy.
The New York Times and certain other media organisations had earlier claimed that Saudi crown prince had requested Prime Minister Imran to mediate between his country and Iran to stave off war.
The premier had also said in a press conference in New York on September 24 that US President Donald Trump had asked him to help in defusing tensions and he immediately went to meet President Rouhani on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly's 74th session last month.
However, the FO in a statement on Saturday credited the prime minister for the peace initiative. It said: “The initiative for possibility of dialogue between KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] and Iran, the two brotherly countries of Pakistan, is an effort by the prime minister of Pakistan for ensuring peace in the region.”
The statement denied that the crown prince had delivered a message for the Iranian leaders or even asked Prime Minister Imran to play a mediatory role with Iran.
Iran, meanwhile, said it was open to any mediation or direct talks with Saudi Arabia.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, in an interview with TRT while talking about the prime minister's initiative, said: “We’ve never rejected any intermediary [...] We’ve always been open to mediation, and we’ve always been open to direct talks with our Saudi neighbours.”
Emphasising the importance of dialogue for resolving outstanding issues, he said, “We don’t have any choice but to talk to each other.”