Trump says Iran war ‘close to over’: Field Marshal arrives in Tehran

ISLAMABAD/ DUBAI/WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s role in the Iran–US diplomatic track moved into an active shuttle phase on Wednesday as Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir reached Tehran to carry forward negotiations that began in Islamabad, signalling that the process has entered a continuity stage rather than stalled after the Islamabad talks over the weekend.

The development comes as Pakistan simultaneously activated parallel diplomatic channels, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the foreign policy leadership engaging Saudi Arabia, with further outreach expected toward Qatar and Türkiye, according to sources.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran along with a formal delegation that included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

The delegation was received by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

READ MORE: Iranian delegation leaves Islamabad after peace talks

Defence ministry sources said the current phase reflects a coordinated strategy, with civilian leadership engaging regional capitals while the military leadership carries forward direct communication between Tehran and Washington.

The visit comes as both Tehran and Washington continue to rely on Pakistan as a communication channel following the conclusion of direct talks in Islamabad, which, despite ending without agreement, kept engagement intact.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that exchanges between the two sides had continued through Pakistan since Sunday.

“Multiple messages have been exchanged through the Pakistani intermediary,” he said, adding that the expected arrival of the Pakistani delegation was part of the same diplomatic sequence initiated in Islamabad.

A senior Iranian official, cited by Reuters, said the purpose of the visit was to “narrow gaps” between Tehran and Washington, indicating that the process has shifted from formal talks to gap-bridging diplomacy.

Defence ministry sources further said the Army Chief’s visit is aimed at relaying outcomes of recent Pakistan-facilitated engagements, including high-level interactions involving US Vice President JD Vance, as part of efforts to translate initial talks into workable convergence.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026