TEHRAN, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday called for closer cooperation with Pakistan to counter Israel's military campaign in Gaza, urging "joint and effective" efforts to confront what he described as oppression against Palestinians, according to a statement on his official website.
Khamenei, speaking during a meeting in Tehran with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said Pakistan's standing in the Muslim world made it a key partner in supporting the Palestinian cause. He added that deeper bilateral ties could strengthen the broader Islamic response to the conflict.
"Iran and Pakistan enjoy warm and brotherly relations," Khamenei said. "We hope to see further progress in political, economic and cultural cooperation."
Khamenei praised Islamabad's historical support for the Palestinians and called for unity among Muslim nations, amid growing outrage in the region over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
He also welcomed signs of easing tensions between Pakistan and India, expressing hope that the neighbors would continue working to resolve their disputes.
Sharif, who arrived in Tehran earlier on Monday with a senior delegation, criticized the international community for what he described as its failure to stop the violence in Gaza. He said his visit aimed to bolster cooperation with Iran across multiple sectors, the Iranian statement said.
Separately, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported that Sharif briefed Khamenei on recent border tensions with India and thanked Iran for its support against "Indian aggression."
Later in the day, Sharif held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials. Discussions focused on regional and international developments, as well as efforts to expand bilateral trade and security cooperation. ■
