- WEB DESK
- August 22, 2026
Field Marshal Asim Munir meets Iran interior minister after arriving in Tehran
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- WEB DESK
- August 24, 2026
TEHRAN: Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran, shortly after arriving in the Iranian capital as part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability.
The meeting comes during Field Marshal Munir’s official visit to Iran, where he is expected to engage with senior Iranian officials on regional security and efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Munir’s visit is focused on promoting efforts towards a peaceful, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the conflict in the Middle East.
The visit is taking place amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with Washington preparing major new sanctions targeting Iran and its trade partners. Tehran has warned of retaliation against measures it considers hostile.
Pakistan has been playing a mediatory role between Iran and the United States and has maintained contacts with both sides as tensions have escalated.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had earlier said Field Marshal Munir would lead an official delegation to Tehran to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Iran and continue Islamabad’s efforts in support of peace and security in the region.
The visit also follows a reported phone call between Field Marshal Munir and US President Donald Trump last week. According to three Pakistani sources cited by Reuters, Trump urged Pakistan to use its influence to encourage Iran to return to negotiations.
The White House has not publicly acknowledged the call. Last week’s call, which has not been previously reported, was initiated by Trump, according to two Pakistani sources.
Pakistani officials have indicated that discussions in Tehran could cover the stalled US-Iran peace process, regional security and broader developments affecting the Middle East.
The meeting with Momeni is the first publicly reported engagement of the Pakistani delegation following its arrival in Tehran. Further meetings with senior Iranian officials are expected during the visit.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions as Iran threatens a military response to US plans for sanctions that could further strain the Islamic Republic’s ailing economy.
The visit coincides with a Monday announcement on details of the planned sanctions, which US officials have said would be “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran.
Pakistan steps up mediation efforts
US President Donald Trump had warned of economic consequences against any country that provided “any type of lifeline to Iran” as he seeks to isolate the Islamic Republic.
Oil shipments are at a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran threatening to strike any unauthorised oil tankers that try to transit the vital waterway. Iran’s economy is already under immense pressure from sanctions.
Visit comes amid renewed US-Iran tensions
Pakistan has been leading mediation efforts between Iran and the US aimed at ending the war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
Less than two months after the beginning of the war, Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between the two sides on April 8 and Islamabad hosted direct talks between the US and Iran on April 11 and 12.
The mediation efforts also led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17 between the US and Iran in Geneva.
The MoU set a framework to move towards a permanent end to the war.
Hostilities have since renewed between the two sides, but Pakistan remains engaged in mediation efforts, with Munir and Naqvi having made multiple visits to Iran in recent months.
Munir was expected to meet with people close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday, one Pakistani source said.
Another Pakistani government source told Reuters while US-Iran tensions were a focus of the visit, Munir was also expected to discuss recent attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi fighters on Pakistan’s ally Saudi Arabia as well as the recently signed mutual defence agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
