Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has arrived in Tehran for talks as concerns grow over a possible renewed conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
The visit, reported by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, comes after reports of Iranian military exercises and missile tests in recent weeks. Field Marshal Munir has previously acted as a mediator between Iran’s leadership and the US.
His discussions are expected to include the prospect of an agreement between Washington and Tehran, as well as the conflict in Yemen involving the Iran-aligned Houthi militia and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan is an ally of Saudi Arabia, and Pakistani intelligence sources said Mr Munir would deliver a message to the Iranian government about the potential consequences of the Houthi militia’s actions.
“Munir will tell them that the Houthis’ aggression could also drag Pakistan into a conflict with Iran,” an intelligence officer told the DPA news agency.
The diplomatic activity follows a surprise visit to Israel by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday. He met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at an air force base in the south of the country.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was also in Tehran on Monday for talks with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi. After the meeting, Mr Araqchi wrote on X: “Never in our history have Iran and Russia worked as closely as now.”
Pakistan’s intelligence sources described the visits by Mr Lavrov and the Pakistani military chief as the beginning of a Russian-led de-escalation initiative for the region. Iran is also seeking military support from Russia in its conflict with the US.
