Tehran: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has appreciated Pakistan's people and officials for standing by Iran during difficult times, including the recent Ramadan War. During a meeting with visiting Pakistani Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani on Saturday, Ghalibaf expressed appreciation for the participation of the Pakistani parliamentary delegation.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the meeting took place on the sidelines of ceremonies honoring the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the funeral procession for those killed alongside him. Ayatollah Khamenei was assassinated in US-Israeli air raids on February 28, when the two regimes initiated a war of aggression against Iran that killed thousands of Iranian civilians.

'Friendly nations are companions in difficult times, and we are always grateful to the people and officials of Pakistan for their support, including during the 'Ramadan War.' We are grateful to the people and officials of Pakistan; the people of Pakistan are friends in times of both prosperity and hardship,' Ghalibaf said.

Gilani extended condolences to the Iranian people and authorities over the assassination of the late leader of the Islamic Revolution. Recalling his numerous visits to Tehran, he said he had attended the funeral of Imam Khomeini as speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly and had returned to Iran several times while serving as prime minister and in other positions.

Gilani said he had witnessed significant changes in Iran under Ayatollah Khamenei's leadership, adding that the country had made effective progress. He said he saw 'a bright future' for Iran and expressed the belief that Iran's progress would also advance regional peace and stability.

He also stressed the need to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and expand people-to-people and official exchanges to deepen bilateral relations.