Pakistan Army Chief Mediates US-Iran Peace in Tehran

Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir held talks in Tehran on Friday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as part of ongoing mediation efforts to achieve a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, according to statements from both governments. The meeting addressed "the latest diplomatic efforts and initiatives to prevent further escalation" and explored ways to strengthen "peace, stability, and security" in West Asia, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported. Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in the conflict, which began when the U.S. and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on February 28, triggering retaliatory strikes. The discussions centered on a 14-point proposal that Iran presented several weeks ago, with multiple rounds of message exchanges occurring since then to find mutually acceptable terms. Tehran is demanding an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad, war reparations, and recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway carrying roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged "slight progress" in negotiations while warning against establishing toll systems on international shipping routes. Despite a fragile ceasefire taking effect on April 8, shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz have continued. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had already been in Tehran engaging with Iranian officials before Munir's arrival, and both meetings occurred just weeks after Islamabad hosted the first direct peace talks between senior American and Iranian leaders since 1979. Munir also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during his visit. Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, stated that Iranian armed forces have rebuilt their capabilities during the ceasefire period and warned that restarting the war would have "more devastating and bitter" consequences. Analysts note that Pakistan enjoys the confidence of both Tehran and Washington, positioning it as a crucial facilitator in the diplomatic process.