During his visit to Riyadh, a longstanding ally of Pakistan, the prime minister is expected to hold high-level consultations on key regional and international issues, particularly in the context of the ongoing US-Iran tensions.
The visit comes shortly after the high-profile Islamabad talks between the United States and Iran, which marked the first direct engagement between the two sides in over a decade and the most significant since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Despite nearly 21 hours of negotiations, the talks ended without a formal agreement.
Following the breakdown, the United States announced plans for a maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports, raising concerns about the future of the fragile two-week ceasefire that had paused six weeks of intense conflict across the Gulf.
Discussions in Riyadh are also expected to focus on financial cooperation, especially after Saudi Arabia and Qatar pledged $5 billion in assistance to Pakistan, underscoring continued economic support for Islamabad.
The prime minister will be accompanied by senior officials, including Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is also expected to join the delegation following his visit to the United States.
Amid ongoing tensions, Pakistan has reportedly deployed fighter jets and additional military assets to Saudi Arabia under a bilateral defence pact signed in September 2025. The agreement commits both countries to mutual defence, treating any aggression against one as an attack on both, further strengthening their longstanding strategic partnership.
While a ceasefire between Iran and the United States remains in place, the situation across the region continues to evolve, with diplomatic efforts intensifying to prevent further escalation.
