RAWALPINDI: Pakistan and Iran held discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and bringing an “expedited termination” of the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday.
The discussions took place during Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s day-long visit to Iran, where he met the country’s top leadership, the military’s media wing said in a statement.
The army chief landed in Tehran on Sunday for a visit, which the military’s media wing said was part of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to help break the deadlock in the conflict.
During the visit, Field Marshal Munir called on Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian supreme leader’s representative on the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.Comprehensive discussions focused on measures to prevent further escalation, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and expedited termination of the conflict,” the ISPR said.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional peace and the ways to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the disputes, it added.
CDF Munir’s visit comes amid renewed tension in the region after Washington announced an expanded round of sanctions, which US officials said were designed to cut off Tehran’s economic lifeline and put the world on notice to cease doing business with the country.
Later, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied the army chief during the visit, said Pakistan had made significant progress in its efforts to help end the US-Iran conflict.
In a post on X, Naqvi said that they had a “very positive and productive meeting” with the Iranian president during the visit.
The discussion focused on the US-Iran conflict, Middle East tensions, and the way forward, as well as the steps needed by both sides to restore the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, he added.
“The Iranian President candidly shared his Government’s perspective and concerns, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved,” Naqvi said.
The security czar maintained that the meeting concluded on a highly positive note, saying Islamabad remained hopeful that “this momentum will help pave the way for further progress and lasting peace in the region”. –Agencies
