Pakistan's Army Chief spearheads mediation in Tehran to revive stalled US-Iran negotiations

Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to spearhead urgent mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, as reported by multiple outlets including CNN-News18 and Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations. The high-level delegation was warmly welcomed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, with discussions focusing on reviving stalled US-Iran negotiations following the collapse of initial talks in Islamabad over the weekend. According to Iran's state-run Press TV, Munir is delivering a direct message from Washington to Iranian leaders and laying groundwork for a second round of talks, potentially hosted in Islamabad before a fragile ceasefire expires next week.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the ongoing Iran-US conflict, which has disrupted global oil markets through threats to the Strait of Hormuz and raised fears of escalation. First-round negotiations in Islamabad broke down over irreconcilable demands: Tehran refused to abandon its nuclear program, while the US insisted on barring Iranian control of the vital shipping route, as detailed in reports from DRM News and Geo News. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei emphasized that true dialogue cannot involve "dictation and imposition," signaling Tehran's firm stance even as message exchanges continue via Pakistan.

President Donald Trump has injected optimism into parallel diplomatic tracks by announcing historic talks between Lebanon and Israel, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, "We feel good about the prospects of a deal." This development, covered by The Independent, underscores broader US efforts to stabilize the Middle East, potentially easing pressures on Iran-related hostilities. Pakistan, dubbed Trump's "favourite field marshal" for Munir, positions itself as a key broker, with indications of meetings between Munir and high-profile Iranian figures like potential talks with new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Ali Khamenei.

These maneuvers matter profoundly for global stability, as the war has already rattled energy supplies and drawn in regional powers. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is simultaneously visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye to rally support for a US-Iran deal, per Telegraph India, highlighting Islamabad's multi-front push to repair its international standing while averting catastrophe. Those affected span from oil-dependent economies to civilians in conflict zones, with the ceasefire's fragility amplifying risks of renewed fighting.

Looking ahead, success hinges on bridging the nuclear and Hormuz divides before the truce unravels. Bloomberg noted the warm reception for Munir, suggesting Iran remains open to dialogue despite public rhetoric. As backchannel communications persist, the world watches whether Pakistan's desperate bid—described by some as a last effort to salvage the Islamabad process—can deliver peace or merely delay deeper confrontation.