Pakistan PM Sharif to visit Iran on Friday to attend Khamenei’s funeral

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Iran on Friday along with senior ministers to attend the funeral of late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in US-Israeli strikes in February, the Foreign Office announced on Thursday.

“The prime minister will convey condolences on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan to the Iranian leadership and the bereaved families while reaffirming solidarity with the brotherly nation in their hour of profound grief,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, cabinet members and senior officials will accompany Sharif during the visit, PTI reports.

After concluding his Iran trip, Sharif will travel to Turkiye at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He would “hold discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations with a special focus on giving impetus to bilateral trade and investment cooperation between the two brotherly countries,” Andrabi said.

“The leadership meeting will also reflect on issues concerning regional peace and security,” he added.

Sharif will also address a business conference hosted by Pakistan to “spotlight Pakistan’s trade and investment potential in priority areas, including SEZs (special economic zones), energy, trade, IT and privatisation sectors”, Andrabi said.

Earlier, Sharif had announced on the eve of the Iranian president’s visit last week that he would attend the funeral of the late supreme leader.