Pakistan army chief tells China US-Iran deal 'close' in Beijing

Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday that a US-Iran agreement is close to being reached, according to Chinese state media, as Islamabad intensifies its mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington.

Beijing talks

Munir made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing held alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China, China Daily reported, citing the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. The army chief briefed Wang on the latest developments in Islamabad’s role in negotiations aimed at easing tensions between Iran and the US, according to the report.

The meeting occurred following Munir’s trip to Tehran last week, where he held talks with Iranian leadership. The visit comes as Pakistan seeks to cement its position as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran amid ongoing regional tensions.

China's endorsement

According to the Chinese report, Munir told Wang that Pakistan was willing to continue making every effort to facilitate an agreement and expressed hope that China would play a larger role in the process. Wang described Pakistan as a trustworthy mediator and said Beijing appreciated and supported Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts.

Regional diplomacy

Chinese President Xi Jinping also met Prime Minister Sharif in Beijing on Monday, praising Pakistan’s role in promoting regional peace and reaffirming the countries’ unbreakable partnership. Pakistan hosted direct talks between US and Iranian officials earlier this year, though negotiations later stalled over key demands.