Pakistan army chief to visit Tehran

Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is scheduled to travel to Tehran on Monday, according to Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei. The visit aims to bolster bilateral cooperation between Iran and Pakistan, and to continue Pakistan's good offices in supporting peace and security in the region. During the trip, Munir will meet with high-ranking Iranian officials to discuss ongoing efforts to bring stability to the area.

The visit is timely, as tensions have escalated due to Iran's threat of military retaliation against the United States' proposed sanctions, which could significantly impact Iran's struggling economy. These sanctions, described by US officials as the "toughest sanctions in history," are set to be announced on Monday, with President Trump warning of economic consequences for any country providing aid to Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route, is currently experiencing a freeze as Tehran has threatened to target unauthorized oil tankers attempting to pass through. Pakistan has been the leading mediator in the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Just two months later, Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between the two nations on April 8 and hosted direct talks between the US and Iran on April 11 and 12.

The mediation efforts also resulted in the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17 in Geneva, which outlined a framework for a permanent end to the war. Although hostilities have resurfaced since then, Pakistan continues to be actively involved in mediation, with both Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi making multiple visits to Iran in recent months.