TEHRAN, April 23 (MNA) – The will of the leaders of Iran and Pakistan to expand the cooperation made the efforts of some countries to damage the friendly relations between Tehran and Islamabad ineffective, President Raeisi said.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi, who is on a visit to Pakistan, met and held talks with Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab on Tuesday.

The relations between the two countries have always been growing and improving after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Raeisi said in this meeting.

The will of the leaders of Iran and Pakistan to expand the cooperation made the efforts of some countries to damage the friendly relations between Tehran and Islamabad ineffective, Raeisi said.

The exchange of diverse mutual capacities between Iran and Pakistan is the basis for securing the interests of the two nations and increasing the power of the two countries, he noted.

The purpose of my visit to Lahore is to pay tribute to the late Iqbal Lahori and to strengthen the cultural relations between the two countries because Lahori is considered a cultural symbol of Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif also said that she will use all her efforts to further expand Iran-Pakistan relations.

MNA/