TEHRAN- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian is expected to pay an official visit to Pakistan next week.

On Monday, the Iranian foreign minister and his Pakistani counterpart, Jalil Abbas Jilani, released a joint statement following a phone call.

Amir Abdollahian will travel to Pakistan on January 29, 2024, according to the statement, at the request of the foreign minister of Pakistan.

The senior diplomats from Pakistan and Iran also concurred that their respective nations’ ambassadors will resume their posts by January 26.

Cross-border tensions between the two neighbors escalated as a result of Iran’s counterterrorism efforts.

Israel turns to blind terrorism as it fails to achieve any of objectives in Gaza 

Amir Abdollahian also asserted that the Israeli regime is turning to “blind terrorism” as a means of avenging its failure in the beleaguered Gaza Strip.

During a Sunday meeting in Tehran with Marzouq al-Hubaini, the head of the Iran-Kuwait Parliamentary Friendship Group, Amir Abdollahian praised Kuwait’s position in aiding the suffering Palestinian people.

“Although the Zionist enemy has destroyed Gaza on a large scale and martyred tens of thousands of people, it has not achieved any of its goals, so it is trying to make up for its defeat by resorting to blind terrorist acts,” the top Iranian diplomat noted. 

Amir Abdollahian called on the parliaments of Kuwait and Iran to prioritize fostering goodwill amongst them.

According to al-Hubaini, the most important factor supporting the preservation of bilateral relations is the growth of parliamentary connections.

He restated Kuwait’s intention to strengthen parliamentary ties with Iran.

The legislator from Kuwait went on to say that Iran’s moral stand for the rights and cause of the Palestinian people is much appreciated by Kuwait.

“As a Muslim and Arab country, we respect the principled positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in defending the rights of the people and supporting the cause of Palestine,” Al-Hubaini added. 

In another meeting with a visiting delegation of lawmakers from Algeria on Sunday, the Iranian foreign minister said that the relations between the two countries are at their best and satisfactory.

Amir Abdollahian hosted Moussa Kharfi, the Deputy Speaker of the Algerian Parliament and the head of the Algerian-Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Group, and exchanged views on bilateral and international issues. They discussed ways to expand cooperation between the two countries.

The Algerian delegation was informed by Amir Abdollahian that both parties needed to put in more effort to further their partnership.

“In our foreign policy, we attach great importance and priority to developing relations with African nations, especially Algeria, and the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the upcoming OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) summit in Algeria an important event and will actively participate in it”, he said.

The top Iranian diplomat commended Algeria for its “honest support” for the people of Gaza and Palestine and called it a model for other Islamic nations, all the while applauding the country for its struggle against French colonialism and its eventual independence.

The Algerian deputy speaker, for his part, conveyed sorrow over the recent terrorist assaults in the Iranian city of Kerman as well as his appreciation for Iran’s hospitality.  

“On behalf of the National Assembly and the Algerian people, I offer my condolences for the horrific terrorist attacks in Kerman that claimed the lives of innocent people.”

As regards Palestine, Kharfi stated that Algeria unquestionably views the issue as strategically significant.

“The Algerian nation sacrificed more than one and a half million people to achieve independence and freedom from French colonialism. We are confident that Palestine will be victorious and the blood of martyrs is the price of freedom”, he added. 

In addition, Kharfi mentioned the presidents of Algeria and Iran meeting at the UN and stated that both nations are working harder to strengthen their ties in all spheres of politics, legislation, and the economy, particularly in the areas of energy, health, and agriculture.

“Iran prepared to fully collaborate with Kuwait”

In a telephone conversation with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Abdullah Ali Elahia on Sunday evening, Amir Abdollahian said that his nation is prepared to work with Kuwait on a mutually respectful basis.

He also congratulated him over his appointment as the Kuwaiti top diplomat.

The Iranian foreign minister listed the challenges of bilateral relations and called for taking use of all available chances across various domains.

The foreign minister of Kuwait expressed gratitude to Amir Abdollahian and outlined the government’s position on fostering and strengthening ties between the two nations.