TEHRAN (MNN); Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday evening as part of Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts aimed at helping bring the Iran-US conflict to an end.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief was warmly received upon arrival by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the reception.
Sources said the army chief is expected to hold discussions on Iran-US negotiations, regional peace and other important matters during the visit, besides meeting senior Iranian officials.
Earlier in the day, security sources confirmed that the army chief had departed for Iran.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s role in mediation efforts, stating that Washington remained in constant communication with Pakistan’s military leadership.
Rubio praised Pakistan for playing an “admirable role” in trying to broker peace between United States and Iran.
He said Pakistan remained the primary country facilitating contacts between Washington and Tehran, while speaking to reporters in Sweden.
Separately, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran to discuss proposals aimed at resolving tensions between the two countries.
The latest diplomatic engagements come after a second round of planned Iran-US negotiations in Islamabad failed to materialise.
The first direct talks between the United States and Iran were held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12 following a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8. Although the talks ended without a formal agreement, both sides avoided a complete breakdown in negotiations.
Later, US President Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner for further negotiations in Islamabad. However, he indefinitely extended the ceasefire at the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts in recent weeks, with Mohsin Naqvi visiting Tehran twice within days to revive stalled negotiations. During earlier meetings, he held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, parliamentary leaders and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Diplomatic sources said Pakistan continues to relay messages between Tehran and Washington, though disagreements persist over Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, the Strait of Hormuz, missile capabilities and regional security concerns.
The latest negotiations are taking place amid increased pressure from the United States and its Middle Eastern allies. President Donald Trump recently warned that military strikes could resume if an agreement was not reached within a limited timeframe.
Iran, however, warned that any US attack could widen confrontation beyond the Middle East, while maintaining that diplomacy remained possible to prevent renewed hostilities.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi also confirmed that the Iran-US conflict would be discussed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to China from May 23 to 26.
However, Andrabi said the Foreign Office could neither confirm nor deny reports regarding a high-level Pakistani delegation’s visit to Iran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran had received a new proposal from the United States and was currently reviewing it.
He reiterated Iran’s demands, including the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad and an end to the US blockade on Iranian ports.
The Strait of Hormuz, regarded as one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, remains central to the conflict. Iran previously shut down the waterway after attacks by the United States and Israel and later imposed charges on vessels using the route.
Global concern continues to grow over the conflict’s impact on shipping, fuel supplies and regional stability, with many countries calling for an urgent diplomatic resolution.
