Islamabad announces breakthrough in negotiations

Washington – Agencies: Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced significant progress in talks between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, describing the meeting as positive. Naqvi wrote on the X platform that the Iranian president openly presented his government’s views and concerns, and that both sides held a constructive discussion on the issues at hand, focusing on the steps required from both parties to achieve tangible progress, emphasizing that the meeting concluded positively.

For its part, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic Broadcasting reported that Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and chief negotiator, criticized Washington during his meeting with Munir, accusing it of failing to honor its commitments under the memorandum of understanding, while affirming that Tehran remains committed to implementing the agreement but requires a similar commitment from the U.S. side.

Al Arabiya newspaper exclusively revealed yesterday the American messages conveyed by Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir to Iran. A senior source told the channel that the U.S. offered to lift the naval blockade imposed on Tehran and remove sanctions in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to attacks by proxies. The source also clarified that Field Marshal Asim Munir delivered an offer to Iran to halt the blockade and lift sanctions under the memorandum of understanding, noting that Iranian National Security Council Secretary Maj. General Mohsen Rezaee informed Munir that Tehran would continue its internal consultations and provide its response soon.

In this context, Mehdi Tabatabaei, Assistant for Communications and Media to the Iranian President, wrote on X: “Contrary to some incorrect media speculation, the visit of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Commander of the Army of friendly Pakistan, to Iran was highly fruitful and rich with valuable diplomatic achievements, and its results will become clear soon.”

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of the Pakistani Army, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi concluded a one-day visit to Iran. Iran’s IRNA news agency quoted a statement from the Pakistani Army’s Public Relations Department issued yesterday, stating that Field Marshal Asim Munir held official meetings during the visit with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, National Security Council Secretary Maj. General Mohsen Rezaee, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

The statement said: “The talks were comprehensive and focused on measures necessary to prevent further escalation of tensions, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and accelerate the end of the conflict.”