Islamabad Revives Diplomatic Mediation to Resume US-Iranian Negotiations

Pakistan has launched a new diplomatic initiative as part of its mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, aiming to break the current deadlock and resume the bilateral negotiation track. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by his country with Washington last June represents the “best means” to exit the current state of “neither war nor peace.”

The Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan, General Asim Munir, is scheduled to visit Tehran today, where he will meet with several senior officials to help bolster peace and security in the region.

Ismael Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in a Telegram post yesterday that the Pakistani army chief is visiting Tehran today, Monday, accompanied by an official delegation. He noted that the general will hold meetings with senior Iranian officials, adding that “the visit comes within the framework of Pakistan’s efforts to help enhance peace and security in the region.”

In this context, the Al Arabiya Al Hadath satellite channel quoted unidentified sources as saying that the Pakistani army chief will carry American messages to the Iranians during his visit. The channel also revealed that General Asim Munir’s trip to Tehran “will attempt to break the deadlock and resume negotiations.”

The announcement of the visit followed a phone call between the Pakistani army chief and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed “regional affairs,” according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

In a related development, the Associated Press quoted two regional officials as saying that General Asim Munir’s visit to Iran “comes within the framework of ongoing efforts by Islamabad to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran, and to urge both countries to return to the negotiating table.”

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasized the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts and supporting political solutions to de-escalate tensions in the region.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated in a press release that the two ministers discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and developments on regional and international issues of common interest during a phone call. The release added that the ministers exchanged views on regional developments and the future of regional security arrangements in light of the rapid changes occurring in the region.

According to the statement, the Egyptian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of avoiding military escalation, prioritizing the diplomatic track, and ensuring freedom of navigation in maritime passages, including the Strait of Hormuz.

In the meantime, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that the memorandum of understanding signed by Tehran and Washington last June is the “best means” for his country to exit the current state of “neither war nor peace.”

Amid anticipation of the high-level Pakistani official’s visit to Tehran, President Pezeshkian reiterated that the MoU with the United States is the best way for his country to break the deadlock in the conflict.

In a speech published yesterday by the official Iranian news agency (IRNA), Pezeshkian confirmed that the MoU is the best path for his country to exit the state of “neither war nor peace” that the current confrontation has reached. He stated that “members of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council view the memorandum as the best possible agreement, formulated in accordance with the principles of dignity, wisdom, and national interest.”

He clarified that “there is no clause in this memorandum indicating any concessions from the Iranian side.” He emphasized, “The Supreme Leader sets the policies, and we will adhere to this path.”

At the same time, Pezeshkian noted that he is aware that Iranian society is currently facing several difficulties, stressing that the government is doing its utmost to prevent the situation from worsening.