Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is set to arrive in Tehran on Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced on Sunday. Islamabad is seeking to bolster its diplomatic presence as tensions between Iran and the U.S. escalate.
Baghaei said Munir's visit is part of Pakistan's continuing efforts to promote peace, stability and security in the region. The trip comes as Islamabad has increasingly positioned itself as a potential mediator between Washington and Tehran, seeking to facilitate dialogue and help end the prolonged conflict.
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Munir's upcoming meeting with Iran's Foreign Minister comes after the two nations' representatives held a telephone conversation about regional affairs and ways to ensure security in West Asia.
The visit takes place within the context of renewed tensions between Iran and the US. According to reports, Washington is preparing to enact additional economic sanctions against Tehran. In turn, Iran is set to accuse the United States of breaching international law and attempting to extend its hegemony over other countries.
Baghaei described the proposed secondary sanctions as an assertion of “extraterritorial sovereignty”, while warning that the measures could further weaken Iran's economy and affect countries that maintain trade ties with Tehran, including China, a major buyer of Iranian oil.
Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei has also warned neighbouring countries against joining the US economic campaign, saying countries that cooperate with Washington's pressure measures could be considered enemies.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has warned countries against providing Iran with an economic “lifeline” and maintained that Tehran has been unwilling to accept what Washington considers acceptable terms for a deal.
“They would love to make a deal, but they're not ready to make the right deal, in my opinion,” Trump said, quoted by Reuters.
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The standoff has also intensified over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route. Oil shipments through the waterway have fallen sharply, while Iran has threatened action against unauthorised tankers attempting to transit the strait.
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