ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump spoke with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir ahead of his visit to Tehran, with Pakistani sources saying Washington sought Islamabad’s help in persuading Iran to return to negotiations.
According to three Pakistani sources, the conversation took place last week and was initiated by President Trump. Details of the discussion were not immediately available, while the White House did not respond to a request for comment.
One of the sources said the main US request was for Pakistan to use its influence to help bring Tehran back to the negotiating table as Washington seeks to increase economic pressure on Iran.
Trump had warned last week that countries providing Iran with “any type of lifeline” could face economic consequences. Tehran, meanwhile, has threatened to halt oil exports from the Gulf amid escalating tensions.
Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the visit was part of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to advance regional peace and stability.
Pakistan has maintained close engagement with both Washington and Tehran and has emerged as an important intermediary in efforts to de-escalate the US-Iran confrontation.
A Pakistani source said Asim Munir was expected to meet individuals close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei during his Tehran visit.
Another government source said discussions would not be limited to the US-Iran standoff. The field marshal was also expected to raise concerns over recent attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi fighters against Pakistan’s ally Saudi Arabia, as well as discuss the recently concluded mutual defence agreement involving Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
Islamabad previously played a key role in facilitating contacts between Washington and Tehran, helping produce an interim peace understanding in June. However, the Islamabad Memorandum subsequently stalled as renewed hostilities threatened to push the region into a broader conflict.
“There is a trust deficit on both sides,” a Pakistani source said, adding that Field Marshal Asim Munir’s objective was to help narrow the gap between the two sides.
Iranian state news agency ISNA also reported the field marshal’s arrival in Tehran, where he was received by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.
The visit marks Asim Munir’s fourth trip to Iran since the latest hostilities began.
Earlier, the ISPR said Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had departed Islamabad for Tehran as part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
The military’s media wing said the visit would focus on supporting diplomatic efforts for a peaceful, durable and comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Iranian media reported that the Pakistani delegation would hold high-level meetings with Iranian officials as part of efforts to restore regional stability.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei had confirmed on Sunday that Field Marshal Asim Munir would travel to Tehran on Monday as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan has played a prominent mediating role between Iran and the United States since the conflict erupted following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Islamabad has repeatedly sought to facilitate dialogue between the two sides.
The two countries reached a preliminary memorandum of understanding on June 17, but subsequent diplomatic efforts stalled over major disagreements, including security guarantees and arrangements concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest diplomatic initiative follows renewed military confrontations between July 8 and 24, when Washington carried out targeted strikes inside Iran and Tehran retaliated against US military positions in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait.
Diplomatic circles hope Pakistan’s renewed engagement can help rebuild trust and create conditions for Washington and Tehran to resume formal negotiations.
