Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, will fly to Tehran on Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the trip is meant to continue efforts for peace and security in the region.
Pakistan has been the go-between in talks between Iran and the United States on ending the war, which started with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
Two Pakistani government sources confirmed the visit to Reuters. One said Iran and Pakistan were in direct contact. The other said Munir would raise recent developments in the conflict, among them President Donald Trump’s threat of tougher sanctions. “He will discuss peace under Islamabad’s MOU, Trump’s warning and the situation after the Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Arab Agreement and Houthi issues with Iranian leaders,” that source said.
Sanctions due Monday
The timing is no accident. Details of the planned sanctions are due to be announced the same day, and US officials have said they will be “the toughest sanctions in history.” Iran has threatened a military response. Its economy is already under heavy strain from earlier sanctions.
Trump has warned of economic consequences for any country that provides “any type of lifeline to Iran” as he tries to isolate it.
Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are at a virtual standstill. Tehran has threatened to strike any unauthorized oil tanker that tries to pass.
