Pakistan steps up high-stakes Iran-US mediation as Army Chief visits Iran, talks poised for breakthrough

 -- PM arrives in Jeddah as Pakistan takes allies on board on Iran-US talks

-- Iran confirms ongoing backchannel exchanges with US via Islamabad

-- Tehran stands firm on nuclear rights, signals flexibility on enrichment levels

-- Trump signals possible breakthrough, hints at return to Pakistan for talks

TEHRAN: Pakistan’s diplomatic push to bridge the divide between Iran and the United States intensified on Wednesday as Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir arrived in Tehran, signaling a renewed phase in ongoing mediation efforts.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Munir reached the Iranian capital accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The visit comes at a critical juncture, as backchannel diplomacy between Tehran and Washington continues despite the absence of a formal breakthrough in recent talks.

Iran confirmed that indirect exchanges with the United States have persisted following negotiations held in Islamabad over the weekend. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei revealed that multiple messages had been relayed through Pakistan since the Iranian delegation returned home.

“Since Sunday, several messages have been exchanged through Pakistan,” Baqaei said, adding that a Pakistani delegation was expected in Tehran as part of the ongoing diplomatic engagement.

Despite the continued dialogue, Tehran maintained a firm stance on its nuclear policy. Baqaei underscored that Iran’s right to enrich uranium remains “indisputable,” though he acknowledged that the level of enrichment is open to negotiation. He stressed that Iran’s peaceful nuclear ambitions cannot be curtailed “under pressure or through war,” while reiterating that discussions could focus on technical parameters aligned with the country’s needs.

The Iranian official also criticized certain US demands presented during the Islamabad talks, describing them as “unreasonable and unrealistic,” though he did not provide specifics. His remarks highlight the persistent gaps between the two sides, even as diplomatic channels remain active.

On the US side, Donald Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran could resume within days, with a possible return to Pakistan as the venue. Speaking to American media, Trump suggested that Islamabad’s mediation — particularly under the role of Field Marshal Munir — has increased the likelihood of renewed engagement.

“We’re more inclined to go there,” Trump said, praising Munir’s efforts and hinting that Pakistan could again host the next round of talks instead of alternative locations previously considered in Europe.

In a separate interview, Trump described the discussions as progressing “a little bit slow” but expressed optimism that a resolution may be within reach, even suggesting that the broader conflict with Iran could be “very close to over.”

The latest developments underscore Pakistan’s emerging role as a key diplomatic intermediary in one of the world’s most sensitive geopolitical flashpoints. With high-level visits, ongoing message exchanges, and cautious optimism from Washington, the coming days may prove decisive in determining whether fragile dialogue can translate into a concrete breakthrough.