Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir held talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on efforts to end the West Asia conflict and secure lasting regional peace, the Iranian government said on Saturday.
Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday for a key visit aimed at accelerating efforts towards a peace deal between the US and Iran, the Pakistan Army said, describing the trip as “part of ongoing mediation efforts”.
He was received in Tehran by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi -- believed to be close to Munir -- was already in Tehran and engaging in talks with top Iranian officials when the field marshal arrived, according to the Army.
According to a statement posted in social media by Iran’s government, Munir met Araghchi in Tehran to “discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation and promoting peace, stability, and security in West Asia”.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that talks between the two leaders went late into the night.
This is the field marshal's second trip to Iran in just over a month.
Pakistan has emerged as a mediator in the ongoing conflict, which has triggered severe energy shortages and impacted economies across the world.
Several analysts say that Pakistan enjoys the confidence of both Tehran and Washington.
Islamabad hosted senior leaders of the two sides last month for peace talks, the first of its kind since 1979, but the parties failed to clinch a deal.
The key sticking points are believed to be Iran’s nuclear programme and control over the Strait of Hormuz -- a waterway that hosts roughly one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies in normal times. Shippings through the strait have been severely disrupted since February 28, when the US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes.
Shipping disruptions continue even though a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8.
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