Pakistani army chief departs for Tehran to discuss regional peace

Pakistan's army chief General Asim Munir departed for Tehran on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and regional peace with Iranian officials, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi joined the delegation for the visit, which comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei announced on Sunday that Munir would meet with high-ranking Iranian officials during his stay. The visit focuses on strengthening bilateral relations and exploring avenues for regional stability.

Mediation efforts

Islamabad has served as a key mediator between Tehran and Washington throughout the war that began on February 28, maintaining close contact with both sides. The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to launch negotiations toward a final agreement, though the talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's most strategic routes for global energy supplies.

Between July 8 and July 24, Washington and Tehran exchanged military strikes. The US launched attacks on targets inside Iran, and Tehran responded by striking American military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.