TEHRAN (Iran News) – Expressing hope for the lifting of unjust sanctions against Iran, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that Iran has the potential to become an economic power in the region. Referring to Islamabad’s independent foreign policy in order to strengthen relations with neighboring and friendly countries, Imran Khan said that in recent years, Iran and Pakistan have established a good understanding to strengthen relations with each other.

“At the time of the start of the government, bilateral relations with Iran may not have been satisfactory, but today I can say that there are excellent relations between the two countries,” he added.

“We have a good understanding with Iran to develop relations,” he noted.

Referring to anti-Iranian sanctions and their consequences in the development of trade between the two countries, Imran Khan said that unfortunately, Iran faces sanctions that have hindered the development of Pakistan’s trade cooperation with that country.

Speaking at the International Conference on Peace and Development in South Asia and the Middle East in Islamabad in October last year, the Prime Minister of Pakistan said that Pakistan could benefit from Iran’s economic potential if anti-Iranian sanctions are lifted and relations between Tehran and Washington improve.

Expressing hope for the resumption of talks between Iran and the West, he stressed that if the sanctions are lifted, Iran has the potential to become a real economic power in the region.

Mr. Khan said this while responding to a question about any possibility of a dialogue with New Delhi during his interactions with the representatives of the digital media in Islamabad.

“No talks possible with India until they restore the autonomous status” of Jammu and Kashmir, he said “We don’t have adversarial relations with any country except India which is trying to destabilize Pakistan,” he said.

Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in Pakistan. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship.