Pakistan army chief visits Tehran to push for lasting US-Iran peace

Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday to push for a lasting peace between the United States and Iran, according to diplomatic sources. The Pakistani Chief of Army Staff is leading an official delegation to Tehran, where he hopes to mediate a resolution to the escalating tensions between the two nations.

Munir’s visit to Tehran comes just days after he reportedly had discussions with US President Donald Trump, according to Al Arabiya and Al Hadath. It is believed that he is carrying messages from Washington to Tehran, as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to ease the conflict between the United States and Iran.

The visit is being undertaken against the backdrop of US threats to impose severe economic sanctions on Iran and its trading partners. Tehran, however, has firmly rejected these US conditions for resolving the Middle East conflict. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that the nation which initiated the armed conflict bears the responsibility for its actions.

Despite their differences, Tehran and Washington have struggled to reach a conclusive agreement on Iran's nuclear file, and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz continue to fuel tensions. Pakistan played a pivotal role in bringing Iran and the US closer together in June, when it helped negotiate a framework agreement that included a ceasefire and negotiations within 65 days.

However, this deal unraveled in July following US attacks on Iran and Iran’s continued interference in the Strait of Hormuz, which has further exacerbated the already strained relations between the two regional powers.