Iran Not to Allow 3rd Parties to Affect Ties with Pakistan

"We will not allow certain countries to affect the relations between Iran and Pakistan by sending weapons and hiring terrorists to foment insecurity at the borders," Shamkhani said in a meeting with Pakistan's National Security Advisor Nasser Khan Janjua in Tehran on Sunday.

He also blasted the new US national security strategy which increases insecurity and instability in the world, and said that Washington's hypocritical and double-standard policy against the Muslim states, including Iran and Pakistan, requires more vigilance, deterrent measures and cooperation among the Islamic countries.

Janjua, for his part, underscored his country's willingness to further broaden its security and economic cooperation with Iran.

Janjua's visit to Iran came as Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad is not in alliance with the US.

“We do not have any alliance," Asif said during an interview with the Wall Street Journal. "This is not how allies behave," he added, referring to US President Donald Trump's administration's decision to suspend its entire security assistance to Pakistan.

The suspension of security assistance for Pakistan ─ announced last week ─ comes as the Trump administration seeks more cooperation from Islamabad as part of its strategy in Afghanistan.

State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said during the announcement that the suspension would remain in effect until Pakistan "takes decisive action" against groups such as the Taliban that are "destabilizing the region and targeting US personnel".