Pakistani Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran for high-level talks to advance diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducign tensions in the region, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Both leaders deliberated upon the diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the US-Iran conflict.
Later, Field Marshal Asim Munir also held detailed talks with Speaker of Iran’s Parliament and Chief Negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Lengthy talks with FM Araghchi
Earlier, Field Marshal Asim Munir has held lengthy talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, and discussed diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Middle East conflict.
According to an Iranian government statement posted on X platform on Saturday, Field Marshal Asim Munir met FM Abbas Araghchi in Tehran to discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation and promoting peace, stability, and security in West Asia.
According to ISNA news agency, Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Araghchi yesterday, and this meeting continued until late into the night; the two sides exchanged views on the latest diplomatic efforts and initiatives to prevent the escalation of tensions and end the war imposed by the United States and Israel on Iran.
Field Marshal Asim Munir landed in Tehran on Friday evening, as diplomacy to end the Middle East war gathered pace and Iran considered the latest peace proposal even.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei cautioned that the visit did not mean "we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation" with "deep and extensive" disagreements remaining, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier voiced hope of progress toward ending the war, which began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran and has led to competing blockades around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, roiling the global economy and pushing up energy prices.
Weeks of negotiations since an April 8 ceasefire -- including historic face-to-face talks hosted by Islamabad -- have still not produced a permanent agreement or restored full access to the strait - through which a fifth of global oil shipments normally pass.
President Donald Trump has described the stop-start negotiations this week as teetering on the "borderline" between a deal and renewed attacks.
The president on Friday said he would miss his son's wedding this weekend due to "circumstances pertaining to government", as US outlets Axios and CBS News reported the White House was considering strikes, although both added a final decision had not been made yet.
Field Marshal Asim Munir had "arrived in Tehran as part of ongoing mediation efforts". He was welcomed by Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and his Pakistani counterpart Mohsin Naqvi, who had been in Tehran on two separate visits in the past week, meeting with the Iranian president and foreign minister.
"In recent days, many countries -- both regional and non-regional -- have been trying to help bring the war to an end... However, Pakistan remains the official mediator," said the Iranian foreign ministry's Baqaei.
Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was engaged in the diplomatic process despite what he called "repeated betrayals of diplomacy" by the US and "military aggression against Iran", according to Iranian news agency Tasnim.
"Despite its strong suspicion of the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran has entered this diplomatic process with a responsible approach and with all seriousness and is striving to reach a reasonable and fair result," Araghchi said.
- Hormuz squeeze -
Rubio, speaking on the margins of a NATO meeting in Sweden, said there had been "some progress" in the talks, but warned that Washington was "not there yet".
"It may not" change, Rubio said. "We're dealing with a very difficult group of people. And if it doesn't change, then the president's been clear he has other options."
Rubio said Trump "prefers the negotiated option" but had expressed concern that a deal "maybe...is not possible".
Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries large volumes of oil and gas, in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes.
The future of Hormuz remains a key sticking point, with fears growing that the global economy will suffer as pre-war oil stockpiles run down.
Baqaei said Hormuz and the US blockade of Iranian ports were also under discussion. "The issue of ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, is very important," he added.–Agencies