Pakistan pushes for new round of US-Iran peace talks as army chief reaches Tehran

Pakistan has intensified efforts to restart peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, with Asim Munir arriving in Tehran to push for a fresh round of talks amid escalating tensions.

According to reports, Munir’s visit comes days after high-level negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad ended without a breakthrough, leaving key issues unresolved and raising concerns over the stability of the ongoing ceasefire.

A Pakistani delegation led by the army chief is engaging with Iranian officials to coordinate a possible second round of negotiations, with a focus on narrowing differences over the nuclear programme and maritime tensions.

The mediation push comes at a critical time, with the current truce between Washington and Tehran nearing its deadline on April 22. Diplomatic sources indicate that extending the ceasefire is a priority, as both sides weigh options for a broader framework agreement.

Pakistan has played a central role in recent diplomatic efforts, having hosted the earlier round of talks in Islamabad on April 11–12. Those negotiations lasted over 20 hours but failed to produce an agreement, particularly due to disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Following the collapse of talks, the United States moved ahead with a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports, further escalating tensions in the region. Iran, in turn, warned of retaliation and described the move as a violation of the ceasefire conditions.

Pakistan’s latest diplomatic outreach is aimed at preventing further escalation and bringing both sides back to the negotiating table.

Parallel diplomatic engagement is also ongoing through other mediators, including Egypt and Turkey, with efforts focused on reaching at least a preliminary framework that could extend the ceasefire and create space for detailed negotiations.