US-Iran peace talks: Pakistan’s Asim Munir arrives in Tehran for second visit as Rubio hints at progress | Today’s news
Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in the Iranian capital Tehran on Friday (local time) for an official visit as uncertainty over the US-Iran peace deal continues to loom, AFP reported.
Iran’s ISNA said Munir is expected to meet with Iranian officials during his visit as part of Islamabad’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. He is also likely to lead high-level consultations as Islamabad tries to reposition itself as a mediator between Tehran and Washington.
Read also | US-Iran war LIVE: India looks to RBI to stabilize rupee as oil surges
According to a statement issued by the army, Field Marshal Munir’s visit is “part of ongoing mediation efforts”. Islamabad, which is the Islamic Republic’s eastern neighbor, has been mediating between Tehran and Washington in an effort to end the conflict that erupted on February 28 when the US and Israel launched strikes.
Upon his arrival, Munir was received and welcomed at the airport by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the airport, according to the army.
Munir arrives as Tehran reviews the US proposal
Munir’s visit comes as the Islamic Republic reviews the latest US proposal to end the Middle East war.
Earlier on Thursday, Iranian media reported that Munir was due to arrive in Tehran that day to continue “talks and consultations” with Iranian authorities.
Pakistan’s field marshal visited Iran for the second time
According to reports, this is Munir’s second visit to Tehran in just over a month, after progress was noted in talks led by Naqvi, who has been in Iran since Wednesday, with Iran’s top leadership, including twice with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to sources.
During his visit, Munir will meet with senior Iranian dignitaries and discuss the ongoing Iran-US talks, regional peace and stability and other matters of common interest.
According to Iran’s state-run Press TV, the Pakistani field marshal’s visit came after Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi, when asked, said he could “neither deny nor confirm” reports of a “high-level delegation” visiting Iran from Pakistan.
Read also | Trump says he’s skipping his son’s wedding because of a thing called Iran
US Secretary of State hints at progress
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he believed “the Pakistanis will go to Tehran today”. His remarks came while Naqvi was already in the Islamic Republic, holding a meeting with the country’s senior leadership.
Rubio also said that despite the “good signs” in the Iran talks, “other options” remain on the table. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself … I think we’ve made some progress,” Rubio said.
Rubio repeated his comments Thursday that Iran’s plans for a toll system for the strait, which carries a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, were “unacceptable.”
“We’re dealing with a very difficult group of people, and if that doesn’t change, then the president has made it clear that he has other options,” Rubio said.
Read also | UAE presidential adviser sees 50:50 chance of US-Iran peace deal
Uncertainty looms over US-Iran peace deal
The recent visits by Pakistani leaders come as the world waits with bated breath for any positive sign in talks between Washington and Tehran. The conflict, which began in late February, rattled global markets after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that in pre-war times accounted for about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies. The move has led several countries to declare energy emergencies or seek alternative options to meet their fuel requirements.
While the two sides continue to work towards a framework agreement that would potentially end the conflict in the region, a shaky ceasefire that has now lasted nearly two months remains in place. However, both US President Donald Trump and senior Iranian leadership have continued to renew threats of possible military action if the ceasefire collapses or the two sides fail to reach a breakthrough.
It remains to be seen whether Munir’s visit could bring any change to US-Iranian negotiations, as he led the first round of talks between the two sides in Islamabad in early April.
Key things
- Pakistan positions itself as a mediator in the US-Iranian conflict.
- The ongoing ceasefire is fragile and threats continue to be made by both sides.
- Asim Munir’s visits may signal potential progress in negotiations.
