ISLAMABAD/TEHRAN — Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran on Tuesday, where he met Iran’s top political and security figures as fears of another military confrontation continue to mount.
Accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Munir met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and senior security official Mohsen Rezaei. Discussions reportedly focused on the escalating regional crisis, stalled negotiations with Washington and tensions along the Pakistan-Iran border.
As per Iranian media, Iranian President Pezeshkian delivered clear message in recent meeting about prospects for renewed negotiations. Pezeshkian insisted that Washington must first abandon its pressure tactics, threats and sanctions before meaningful negotiations can take place.
“Our nation does not trust the United States, and it believes that if we negotiate, they will attack us again,” Iranian president said. His statement shows central obstacle facing diplomatic efforts as Tehran’s deep mistrust of Washington and its concern that negotiations could leave Iran vulnerable to another military strike.
Iranian leadership appears unwilling to make significant concessions without assurances that US pressure will ease and that any eventual agreement will be respected. For Pakistan, bridging that trust deficit may prove far more difficult than simply bringing the two sides back to the negotiating table.
Field Marshal Asim Munir’s meeting with Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reinforced the message that Tehran is not prepared to retreat under pressure. Ghalibaf said Washington could not regain Iran’s trust until it fulfilled seven conditions presented by Tehran. He also indicated that Iran had no new proposals to offer the United States.
“Iran does not want war, but it is fully prepared to defend its homeland and national dignity,” Ghalibaf said, according to IRNA. He warned that military exercises and threats would not alter Iran’s strategic decisions.
The statements suggest that while Tehran remains engaged in diplomatic contacts, its leadership is determined to avoid appearing to negotiate from a position of weakness. That shows major challenge for US President Donald Trump, who is reportedly seeking progress on the Iranian nuclear issue alongside a reduction in regional tensions.
Beyond battlefield and the negotiating table, the crisis potentially enormous economic consequences. Hormuz remains central to concerns over global energy supplies. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the strategic waterway could keep oil prices elevated, increasing economic pressure on import-dependent countries, including Pakistan.
The upcoming US midterm elections could increase the pressure on Trump to bring oil prices down and offer relief to American consumers and if Hormuz reopened before the elections, oil prices could fall from around $110 per barrel to approximately $80–$85. But the economic incentive for a deal does not necessarily mean one is imminent.
Trump also wanted Iran to show flexibility on nuclear issues, while Tehran would be reluctant to make concessions that could provide the US president with a political advantage before the elections. Iran’s nuclear programme therefore remains one of the most sensitive obstacles to a settlement.
While CDF’s visit gets attention for its diplomatic significance, an immediate concern closer to home is the closure of key crossings along the Pakistan-Iran border.
‘Pakistan Never Gave Up on Peace’, Naqvi says, recalling Marathon US-Iran Mediation Efforts
The suspension of cross-border trade has disrupted commercial activity through Balochistan, leaving hundreds of freight containers stranded on both sides and affecting businesses that depend on the movement of goods between the neighbouring countries.
Officials in Islamabad and Tehran confirmed the closure of border crossings on October 17, calling it temporary, although the two sides reportedly offered differing explanations for the decision.
The discrepancy raises questions about whether an agreement has actually been implemented or whether the reopening announcement reflects an understanding that still requires formal confirmation.
For Islamabad, restoring normal border trade would be an important confidence-building measure at a time when it is trying to preserve stable relations with Tehran while pursuing a wider diplomatic role.
Gen Asim Munir’s meeting with senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei brought another major issue into focus: Iran’s nuclear programme. According to Iranian media, Rezaei said that “not a single particle of enriched uranium will leave Iran.”
Even if Pakistan succeeds in facilitating further talks, the most contentious questions will still need to be resolved by the two principal parties. The visit is therefore be more important as an attempt to preserve diplomatic channels than as evidence that a comprehensive settlement is close.
Islamabad is seeking to maintain constructive relations with Iran, a neighbouring country with which it shares a sensitive border and important trade links. Pakistan is attempting to maintain its position as a credible interlocutor with Washington while encouraging a negotiated resolution to the conflict.
Pakistan has direct economic interest in reducing tensions, particularly because rising oil prices place additional pressure on its economy. Dr Farooq Hasnat, a Middle East affairs expert and former head of the Department of Political Science at the University of the Punjab, said diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran had never completely stopped.
He argued that Munir was continuing efforts to reduce tensions and that reopening the Strait of Hormuz could help bring down oil prices.
Hasnat nevertheless expressed doubts that a major breakthrough would occur before the US midterm elections. He also stressed that Iran wanted a settlement but would not accept a process based on intimidation and threats.
Pakistan continues to serve as an important intermediary between Iran and the United States, a role that Iranian officials have reportedly acknowledged publicly. Meanwhile, Russia is also engaging with Tehran.
The increased diplomatic activity has attracted attention from regional security analysts. Recent diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent days as regional actors seek to prevent another military confrontation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has offered a glimpse into the difficulties Pakistan has encountered in previous rounds of mediation.
Speaking at a global conference in Doha, Naqvi said the negotiations had become extremely tense at certain moments, but Pakistan had continued trying to build trust. He stressed that peace required patience and sustained engagement rather than a single diplomatic meeting. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has likewise reiterated that Islamabad will continue its mediation efforts.
