Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir will visit Tehran on Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry announced, in a fresh push to mediate between Tehran and Washington as their war enters its seventh month.
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed the visit on Sunday, saying it aimed to “strengthen bilateral cooperation” and continue Pakistan’s work to promote peace and security in the region. The announcement came after a phone call between Munir and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Pakistan’s Mediator Role
Pakistan has positioned itself as the lead mediator in negotiations between Iran and the US aimed at ending the conflict that erupted in late February with US-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Previous rounds of talks, including Qatar-brokered sessions in Doha, have produced no breakthrough.
The visit comes at a critical juncture. A memorandum of understanding signed by Trump in June set a 60-day deadline for ending the war and resolving Iran’s nuclear program, but that window expired last week with the two sides far apart on core issues including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Capital and money are extremely sensitive to risk,” Iranian President Pezeshkian said in a separate speech on Sunday, underscoring the economic urgency behind renewed diplomatic outreach.
Sanctions Threat Escalates
Munir’s trip coincides with escalating US threats of economic warfare against Iran. Trump has vowed “unprecedented” new sanctions, while Washington pressures Gulf states to restrict Iranian oil exports through alternative shipping routes.
Iran’s new hardline security chief Mohsen Rezaei warned neighbors against cooperating with US sanctions, threatening to target their oil-shipping interests. The increasingly forceful rhetoric from Tehran has complicated mediation efforts even as both sides maintain they want a diplomatic resolution.
Nearly six months of conflict have devastated Iran’s economy under sanctions and a naval blockade. The war has sent oil prices surging past $93 per barrel and disrupted global shipping through the Persian Gulf, with ripple effects felt across energy markets worldwide.
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