Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, visited the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian armed forces in Tehran on Thursday. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed by Major General Ali Abdollahi, the commander of the headquarters.
This visit is part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to transform the recent two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States into a durable peace agreement. Field Marshal Munir, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and a Pakistani delegation, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, where they were received by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
During his stay, the army chief held separate discussions with both Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament. Notably, both Iranian officials had participated in direct talks with a US delegation in Islamabad the previous weekend. Pakistan had facilitated these negotiations on April 11, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s role in brokering the initial ceasefire on April 8.
Prior to the Pakistani delegation’s visit, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson indicated that messages from the US side would be conveyed during the meetings. The visit has since contributed to progress in easing tensions between Iran and the US, as both sides work toward a comprehensive agreement to end weeks of conflict.
In a significant development, a senior Iranian official acknowledged that Field Marshal Munir’s presence in Tehran helped narrow differences on several issues, raising hopes for an extended ceasefire and renewed diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington.
US President Donald Trump has publicly commended the army chief for his pivotal role in Pakistan’s mediation efforts. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Trump described Field Marshal Munir as “fantastic,” suggesting that his involvement increases the likelihood of the US returning to Pakistan for further talks.
During the Islamabad negotiations last weekend, Field Marshal Munir was central to the proceedings, personally welcoming both delegations upon their arrival. Trump has often referred to Munir as his “favourite field marshal,” a rapport that developed amid US attempts to defuse a brief but intense conflict between Pakistan and India the previous year.
