Claims that CDF Munir visited Iran as envoy for US ‘incorrect, misleading’: FO

The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday termed claims that Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Iran as an “envoy” of the United States “misleading and factually incorrect”. The army chief met the Iranian leadership during his day-long visit to Tehran on August 24, undertaken as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to end the stalemate in the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also accompanied him. Addressing a weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi noted that the discussions held during CDF Munir’s visit to Tehran “focused on regional de-escalation, breaking the military stalemate and exploring a negotiated settlement to restore peace and stability”. “I will also highlight that claims by certain quarters that the COAS and CDF visited Iran as envoy of President Trump or the US are misleading and factually incorrect, as his visit was undertaken purely in the context and backdrop of Pakistan’s role as a mediator, ” he said. Andrabi asserted that the visit underscored Islamabad’s “sincere and constructive role in bridging the difference between Washington and Tehran”. He noted that the Iranian leadership appreciated Pakistan’s efforts towards de-escalation and peaceful resolution of the conflict. He stressed that Pakistan “remains engaged alongside our brotherly countries in sincere and concerted efforts towards resolving the crises in the Middle East and Gulf and with respect to the standoff between the US and Iran”. “Pakistan will continue to actively pursue diplomatic engagement and support all sincere efforts aimed at reviving the peace talks and achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution of the conflict, ” he said. Besides the CDF’s visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also remained engaged with his counterparts on regional developments, Andrabi pointed out. He added that over the past two weeks, Dar spoke with Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan three times. A Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the US and Iran in mid-June provided for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and left it up to Tehran and Muscat “to define the future administration and maritime services” in the waterway, in discussion with Gulf states and in line with international law. But the deal, which was supposed to pave the way for talks on permanently ending the war, has since fallen apart. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi visited Tehran on Tuesday, where he discussed a framework agreement that would establish a “temporary corridor” for shipping and a project to clear mines in the strait. Although there has been no clear breakthrough yet, and fundamental differences persist between Iran and the US, the latest diplomatic activity has brought the political and technical dimensions of the dispute back into focus. The Iranian position, nevertheless, remains conditional as it continues to regard the Islamabad MoU as the appropriate framework, but wants Washington to demonstrate through concrete action that it is prepared to honour its commitments. More to follow

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