ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday said that the possibility of an official visit by Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia and Iran was “on the cards”.
Addressing his weekly press briefing, the FO Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal, in response to a question said: “The possibility of a visit of [the] prime minister to Saudi Arabia and Iran is on the cards and I will update you as things unfold.”
Prime Imran Khan’s visit to Iran, if occurs, will be his first to Pakistan’s eastern neighbor after assuming office in August last year. The much-anticipated visit comes as part of Islamabad’s efforts to mediate between Saudi Arabia – a key ally – and Iran – which shares well-documented enmity with the key Gulf player – and defuse brewing tensions in the Middle East.
While responding to another question with regards to whether the possible visit was a continuation of the premier’s recent visits to the United States and China or whether it had to with the regional situation, the FO spokesperson said: “[I] don’t want to say anything further on this.”
However, media reports, citing sources, had claimed that the purpose of the visit was to mediate between the two countries, adding that the dates were yet to be finalised. Reportedly, Prime Minister Imran was expected to hold consultations for the visits after returning from China and the dates for the potential trips would be discussed in the consultations.
Tensions between Tehran and Riyadh have soared since a missile attack on Saudi oil facilities last month. Both the Kingdom and the United States blamed Iran for the strikes — a charge Tehran has strongly rebutted.
Iran is also at loggerheads with the US since May last year when President Trump abandoned a 2015 nuclear deal and began reimposing sanctions on Iran in a stated campaign of “maximum pressure”.
While visiting the United States in September for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, the prime minister said that US President Donald Trump had asked him to help defuse tensions with Iran, adding that he had already spoken with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in an attempt to mediate.
The premier had added that prior to arriving in New York he had visited Saudi Arabia and spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who also asked him to talk to Rouhani.
