CDF Munir, Naqvi in Iran as part of Pakistan's efforts for regional peace

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reached Tehran on Monday, Iranian media reported after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described the visit “as part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability”.

State media in Pakistan, meanwhile, reported that CDF Munir and Naqvi had held a meeting with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

Earlier, ISPR said CDF Munir will “focus on promoting efforts towards peaceful, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the conflict in the Middle East” during the visit.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqai on Sunday said CDF Munir was expected to travel to Tehran to continue efforts to bring peace and security to the region.

He said CDF Munir would lead an official delegation and the “visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Iran and Pakistan and to continue Pakis­tan’s good offices in support of peace and security in the region”.

During the visit, CDF Munir would meet and hold talks with senior officials Iran, Baqaei added.

The United States and Israel triggered the Middle East war with a massive wave of strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering Iranian retaliation across the region.

An April 8 ceasefire ended nearly 40 days of intense bombardment, but control over the Strait of Hormuz soon emerged as a key flashpoint in the conflict.

Iran has controlled the vital energy conduit since the war began. Reopening the strait, vital for global oil and gas supplies, has become a US priority, but Tehran insists the waterway will remain closed until Washington lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, removes oil sanctions and unfreezes Iranian assets abroad.

Pakistan has played a key role in efforts to halt war between Iran and the United States, brokering a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in June, but peace negotiations currently appear stalled.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would ramp up economic pressure on Iran “on an unprecedented scale”.

Washington has urged other governments, including Beijing, to join efforts to further isolate Iran’s economy.

The US is expected to announce details related to the planned sanctions on Mondau, which ​US officials have ​said would be “the ⁠toughest sanctions in history” on Iran.

Additional input from AFP