TEHRAN- The Acting President of Pakistan, during a conversation with the Iranian ambassador in Islamabad, highlighted the importance of strengthening political ties between the two countries.

The public relations office of Pakistan's presidential palace announced that during a meeting in Islamabad on Friday, Pakistani President, Yousaf Raza Gilani and Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri-Moghaddam, engaged in discussions regarding bilateral cooperation and recent regional developments. This included a focus on the current state of the Muslim world, particularly addressing the actions of the Zionist regime in Gaza and Lebanon.

The acting president of Pakistan reaffirmed Islamabad's dedication to supporting the Palestinian cause and expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by Iran to Pakistani pilgrims visiting its religious sites annually and advocated for the enhancement of cooperation between the two nations across various sectors, including trade, security, culture, and education.

The Iranian ambassador acknowledged the growth in trade relations between Iran and Pakistan, highlighting that Pakistan ranked as Iran's fifth-largest trading partner last year. 

Amiri-Moghaddam expressed optimism that the annual trade volume between the two countries could reach $10 billion. Additionally, he commented on the regional tensions, stating, “We are witnessing genocide by the occupying regime of Israel in Lebanon and Gaza.”

Pakistan and Iran have a strong bilateral relationship, with regular high-level exchanges and cooperation in trade, energy, transportation, and security.