Pakistan army chief meets Iran president in Tehran

Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Monday as Islamabad continued mediation efforts over the war between Iran and the United States, Iranian state television reported.

Munir also met Iran's parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as well as Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's highest national security body, according to Iranian state television.

Iran's foreign ministry had said Sunday that Munir's visit would be part of “Pakistan's ongoing efforts to help consolidate peace and security in the region”.

The meetings took place after US President Donald Trump spoke last week with Munir, a US source familiar with the matter told AFP earlier Monday. The source gave no further details of the call.

Pakistan has played a role in efforts to halt the conflict between Iran and the United States, including brokering a memorandum of understanding in June. Peace negotiations currently appear stalled.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday laid out plans for what he called the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran, expanding Washington's secondary sanctions threats and warning of consequences for countries that do not join the campaign.