Iran hails CDF's visit as 'highly fruitful'
Pakistan said on Tuesday that "significant progress" was made during Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir's visit to Tehran, where the Pakistani side held high-level talks with Iranian leadership on ending the US-Iran conflict and reviving the stalled Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied the army chief during the day-long visit, said the meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was "very positive and productive", expressing hope that the momentum generated in Tehran would help pave the way for further progress and lasting peace in the region.
"Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and I had a very positive and productive meeting with the President of Iran," Naqvi said in a post on X after returning to Pakistan.
He said the discussions focused on the Iran-US conflict, tensions in the Middle East, the way forward and steps required by both sides for restoration of the Islamabad MoU, which Pakistan believes could lead to a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.
"The Iranian President candidly shared his Government's perspective and concerns, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved," Naqvi said, adding that "significant progress was made" and the meeting concluded on a "highly positive note".
Moreover, Iranian President's Office Deputy for Communications and Information Dissemination Seyyed Mehdi Tabatabaei on Tuesday described Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir's visit to Iran as "highly fruitful", saying it produced "highly valuable diplomatic achievements".
In a post on X, Tabatabaei dismissed "inaccurate media speculation" about the visit, saying its results would "soon become apparent".
"Contrary to some inaccurate media speculation, the visit of Field Marshal Asim Munir, commander of the army of friendly Pakistan, to Iran was highly fruitful and yielded highly valuable diplomatic achievements," he said.
The Pakistani delegation's assessment suggests that Islamabad may have succeeded in narrowing some of the differences between Washington and Tehran, although it remains unclear whether the progress will immediately translate into a breakthrough.
The Tehran visit came at a critical juncture as President Donald Trump has threatened tougher economic sanctions against Iran and countries continuing to do business with Tehran, while efforts to revive an earlier understanding between the two sides have remained stalled.
The Islamabad MoU had envisaged a 60-day window for the parties to move towards a broader settlement, but the deadline passed without a breakthrough.
During their stay in Tehran, Field Marshal Munir and Naqvi held meetings with a number of senior Iranian officials, including President Pezeshkian, Supreme Leader's representative on the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.
The Iranian side, according to people familiar with the discussions, reiterated its concerns over Washington's commitments and stressed the need for practical guarantees before any new understanding could be reached.
Rezaei particularly underscored Tehran's deep distrust of the United States, the importance of security in the Strait of Hormuz and the need for Washington to demonstrate practical compliance with the Islamabad MoU.
Ghalibaf, who has also been involved in Iran's negotiating process, conveyed Tehran's position that the United States had failed to honour commitments made under the understanding.
Pakistan's mediation efforts have focused on finding a way to restore the Islamabad MoU and create conditions for direct or indirect engagement between Washington and Tehran. Islamabad has also been concerned about the wider regional consequences of the conflict, particularly tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Following the Tehran visit, Naqvi held a meeting in Islamabad with US Charge d'Affaires Natalie Baker, with the regional situation and efforts for peace and stability featuring prominently in the discussion.
According to the Interior Ministry, the two sides also discussed Pakistan-US bilateral cooperation and ways to expand collaboration in various fields.
The meeting also covered cooperation between police officers, including exchange programmes and training.
Pakistan and the United States agreed to enhance cooperation against organised crime, narcotics and human trafficking, according to the ministry.
Significantly, Baker appreciated Field Marshal Munir's "positive diplomatic role" for peace and stability in the region, suggesting that Washington remains attentive to Islamabad's efforts to mediate between the two sides.
The meeting was also attended by the federal interior secretary.
Naqvi's meeting with the US diplomat immediately after the Tehran trip assumes significance as Islamabad seeks to maintain communication with both Washington and Tehran and build on what it describes as the positive momentum generated during the latest round of diplomacy.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that its efforts are aimed at facilitating a negotiated settlement rather than taking sides in the conflict. The latest diplomatic push comes amid growing concerns that a prolonged confrontation could further destabilise the wider Middle East and disrupt vital maritime and energy routes.
Islamabad now hopes that the "significant progress" reported from Tehran can be translated into concrete steps towards restoring the Islamabad MoU and ultimately securing a lasting end to the conflict.