On Friday, 19^th April 2024, Ambassador (R) Riffat Masood, former Ambassador of Pakistan to Islamic Republic of Iran of Pakistan, addressed during a lecture on “Pakistan’s Relations with Iran”, to the participants of the 35^th SMC.

During the discussion, Ambassador (R) Riffat Masood underscored the critical role of economic interactions in bolstering Pakistan-Iran bilateral relationships. She identified the largely unexplored economic potential of Iran as a significant opportunity for Pakistan, given their shared border, and advocated for expanding trade and cooperation channels, notably through the Iran- Pakistan Gas Pipeline. She also highlighted the positive regional implications of the recent Iran- Saudi rapprochement. The guest speaker elaborated on how Pakistan could leverage its neutral stance to benefit from these improving relations, contextualising this within the broader fluctuations of US-Iran relations and other international tensions, including the ongoing situation in Gaza.

In her concluding remarks, the guest speaker laid out her strategic vision for the future of Pakistan-Iran relations, emphasising the necessity of maintaining neutrality and engaging across multiple dimensions to forge strong, respectful partnerships.