Pakistan ready to play positive role between Iran, Saudi Arabia: Imran tells envoy

Prime minister-designate Imran Khan on Saturday told Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost that Pakistan is ready to play a constructive and positive role between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Khan offered to play the role of a mediator between Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and the predominant Shia power Iran as both the countries have a long history of rivalry due to which they today stand on opposing sides of conflicts in Middle East-right from Syria to Yemen.
The Iranian ambassador called on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman at his Banigala residence to congratulate him on his party's victory in 2018 general election, said a statement issued here by party's central secretariat.
Ambassador Honardoost also conveyed congratulatory wishes from Iran's President Hassan Rouhani. He told Khan that Iran is ready to cooperate with Pakistan in regional development and is also keen to expand trade with Pakistan.
He also expressed his country's desire to negotiate with Pakistan on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project, adding that the pipeline could "change the future of Pakistan," the PTI statement said.
While observing that the situation in the region is highly sensitive, Honardoost said, "Iran will welcome Pakistan's suggestions to ensure peace in the region." Khan thanked the Iranian envoy for the wishes conveyed by his government, and reiterated Pakistan's desire to trade with "all regional neighbours, including Iran," said the press release.
"Iran's role in protecting its integrity is commendable," the expected prime minister said. Khan told the envoy he wishes to visit Iran and see its historical sites. The Iranian ambassador is one of many foreign dignitaries to have visited Khan in recent days. The envoys of Britain, China, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates have all called on the PTI chairman since the election results arrived. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi also telephoned Imran Khan to congratulate him over his party's victory, saying that India was "ready to enter a new era of relations with Pakistan," according to a PTI statement.