D-8 Secretary General reaffirms solidarity with Iran, calls for stronger economic cooperation during Tehran visit

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jul, 2026) Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on 2-4 July 2026 to attend the ‘Farewell and Tribute Ceremony’ held in honour of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

He was accompanied by Muhammad Bilal Khan, Executive Assistant, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.

On behalf of the D-8 Organization, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood conveyed profound condolences to the Iranian leadership, government and people. He participated in the solemn ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries, offered prayers for the departed soul, signed the condolence book and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and the people of Iran.

During his stay in Tehran, the Secretary-General called on Foreign Minister Dr. Seyed Abbas Araghchi for a bilateral meeting. The discussions focused inter alia on the long-standing partnership between the D-8 Secretariat and Iran, regional developments, D-8’s strategic priorities, and preparations for the next phase of D-8 cooperation.

The Secretary-General offered the sympathies and condolences on behalf of the Secretariat, reaffirmed solidarity with the people of Iran, and wished success for the Iranian leadership’s efforts for durable peace, progress and prosperity. He also apprised Foreign Minister Araghchi of recent progress on various tracks of cooperation within the D-8 framework and highlighted the D-8’s present profile and future trajectory.

Foreign Minister Araghchi thanked the Secretary-General for participation in the ‘Farewell and Tribute Ceremony’; underlined Iran’s strong national resolve as well as commitment for peace through dialogue and diplomacy; and emphasized the importance of enhanced economic cooperation in the transformed regional landscape.

The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed Iran’s steadfast commitment to D-8 as a founding member and assured that Iran would continue to contribute substantially to the advancement of the D-8 agenda of cooperation across the broad spectrum.

<?php /*?> <?php */?>

Views were also exchanged on ways to realize new opportunities for increased trade, investment, energy cooperation, and hard and soft connectivity, arising from the transformation underway. 

The Secretary-General also had substantive interactions with Deputy Foreign Minister and President of the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) Dr. Saeed Khatibzadeh; and with Iran’s D-8 Commissioner Ambassador Alireza Tootoonchian. The exchanges in those meetings focused on enhancing policy dialogue, deepening D-8 collaboration in priority areas under the Decennial Roadmap 2020-2030, and measures to strengthen D-8’s institutional capacity, organizational effectiveness, and international profile and visibility. 

Overall, during the various interactions in Tehran, the Secretary-General underscored that the D-8 is entering a new phase of strategic transformation centered on closer economic integration, trade and investment promotion, industrial cooperation, innovation, technology, energy security, sustainable development, and people-centered growth. He also emphasized that Iran's industrial capabilities, technological expertise, manufacturing capacity, and strategic position would continue to be of immense value in advancing the collective vision and objectives of the D-8.

The Secretary-General’s visit served to further reinforce the partnership between the D-8 Secretariat and the Islamic Republic of Iran, while the exchanges highlighted shared determination on both sides to support D-8’s organizational capacity-building through enhanced human and financial resources; deeper economic cooperation and integration across the D-8 geography; and increased international awareness and profile of D-8 as it enters the 30th year since its inception in 1997.