ISLAMABAD: Pakistan tightened security in the federal capital on Tuesday ahead of the arrival of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, with authorities restricting traffic and closing access points to Islamabad’s high-security Red Zone.
The visit comes days after US and Iranian officials held talks in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a diplomatic framework brokered by Pakistan and Qatar following months of regional tensions.
Islamabad police announced a series of security measures ahead of the Iranian president’s arrival.
“The entry of all heavy traffic into Islamabad from any direction or highway will remain suspended from midnight until further notice,” police said in a public advisory.
Authorities also closed all entry points to the Red Zone except those located near Marriott Road and Margalla Road. The area houses key government institutions, diplomatic missions and official residences.
Separately, the Cabinet Division directed most government offices located in the Red Zone to work remotely on Tuesday. The Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry were exempted from the directive.
Pezeshkian is expected to arrive later in the day with a high-level delegation of ministers and senior officials. During the visit, he will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explore ways to expand cooperation in trade, energy, border security, regional connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
Officials are also expected to discuss recent diplomatic developments following the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The visit marks Pezeshkian’s second trip to Pakistan since assuming office. During his previous visit in August 2025, Pakistan and Iran agreed to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion and deepen cooperation in economic and security sectors.
Pakistan has played an active mediating role in recent US-Iran diplomacy. Islamabad helped facilitate a ceasefire following regional hostilities earlier this year and hosted the first direct high-level engagement between American and Iranian officials.
The diplomatic process gained further momentum on Sunday when US and Iranian representatives met in Switzerland under the Pakistan-Qatar-backed framework. A joint statement issued after the talks said both sides had agreed on a roadmap aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement within 60 days and had established mechanisms to support implementation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Qatari mediators attended the discussions.
Ahead of the visit, Iranian and Pakistani officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. During a visit to Tehran on Saturday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met President Pezeshkian, who praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and its role in supporting dialogue and regional stability.
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The Iranian president also emphasized the importance of expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
Pakistan and Iran share longstanding political, economic and cultural ties. In recent years, both countries have sought to strengthen cooperation in trade, connectivity and regional security despite occasional border-related challenges.
