Iran contemplating participation in the Silk Road initiative, a collaboration between Iran, Pakistan, and China.
In a significant development, Iran has expressed its interest in joining the Silk Road initiative alongside Pakistan and China. This decision was made during the Iranian President's official visit to Pakistan in early August 2025, where Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh engaged in high-level talks with Pakistani federal ministers.
The Silk Road Initiative, a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aims to boost connectivity and trade between the three countries. The focus is on enhancing transport infrastructure and logistics corridors.
One of the key areas of cooperation is the expansion of maritime trade via the Gwadar-Chabahar route, a crucial regional trade route linking the Arabian Sea to Central Asia. Both nations have agreed to work together to enhance this connection.
In addition, discussions included expanding land and rail route linkages between Pakistan and Iran to facilitate smoother transit and economic integration. The intention is to modernise the current Quetta-Zahedan Route for improved connectivity.
During the Iranian President’s visit, at least 12 MoUs and agreements were signed across various sectors. These MoUs cover broader cooperation, including transportation, trade, investments, and infrastructure development, aligned with the Silk Road and regional economic integration initiatives.
Pakistan has invited Iran to the upcoming Ministerial Conference in Pakistan scheduled for October 23-24, 2025. This conference will include ministers from around 20 countries focusing on connectivity and trade cooperation.
The Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, extended sentiments of goodwill to the people of Pakistan during the joint meeting in Islamabad. She also expressed the need to increase the number of vehicles operating between Iran and Pakistan.
In a gesture of solidarity, President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran extended an invitation to PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Iran for renewed talks and progress follow-up. PM Shehbaz Sharif, in response, committed to increasing trade volume between Pakistan and Iran to $10 billion.
The Iranian President also planted a commemorative sapling in the garden of the PM House, symbolising the growing friendship between the two nations. President Asif Ali Zardari and President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed their resolve to deepen bilateral cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region during their meeting.
To accelerate the implementation of agreed initiatives, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan proposed forming bilateral working groups. Iranian Minister Farzaneh Sadegh thanked her Pakistani counterparts for their cooperation.
The MoUs signed between Pakistan and Iran include cooperation in various sectors such as plant protection, science & technology, ICT, culture, art, tourism, meteorology, maritime safety, judicial assistance, air services, product certification, tourism cooperation for 2025-27, and the intent to finalize a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
In conclusion, Iran's decision to join the Silk Road initiative marks a significant step towards regional economic integration. The multiple MoUs signed between Pakistan and Iran aim to formalize cooperation in infrastructure, trade, and transport to boost regional economic integration. The $10bn bilateral trade target is a testament to the growing economic ties between the two countries.
- Acknowledging the expanding partnership, the Iranian Minister for Roads and Urban Development, Farzaneh Sadegh, stated the need for increasing the number of vehicles operating between Iran and Pakistan, hinting at growing economic integration.
- In line with the Silk Road Initiative, discussions at the joint meeting in Islamabad included cooperation in numerous sectors such as science and technology, as well as culture and art, indicative of a broader cultural and knowledge exchange.
- With Iran's decision to join the Silk Road initiative, the focus has now expanded to include the agreement on modernizing the Quetta-Zahedan Route for improved connectivity – an essential step in the realm of technological advancements impacting transport infrastructure and logistics corridors.
