Pakistan's interior minister arrives in Tehran for US-Iran peace talks
Tehran, June 7
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday for a fresh round of negotiations with Iranian officials on behalf of the United States, with regional tensions remaining high despite months of diplomatic engagement, as reported by CNN.
During his visit, Naqvi is scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
Separately, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported that Naqvi is carrying a letter from Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has maintained a low public profile since taking office in March.
This visit marks Pakistan's continued efforts to position itself as a regional mediator amid tensions between the United States and Iran.
Ahead of the visit, Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on the planned discussions in Iran. He also updated the prime minister on his recent engagements on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, the PMO added, reported by Dawn.
"Consultations also took place between the prime minister and the interior minister regarding his upcoming visit to Tehran. The prime minister provided guidance related to the visit," the statement added.
The visit takes place amid a regional crisis that erupted on February 28, when the United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory action from Tehran. The escalation has heightened tensions across West Asia, disrupted trade routes, unsettled energy markets, and sparked fears of wider instability in the region.
In April, Islamabad facilitated direct talks between US and Iranian officials, the first such meeting since the onset of the conflict. The discussions, however, concluded without reaching a breakthrough agreement.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting move by Pakistan to position themselves as a regional mediator. They've been trying to improve their diplomatic standing lately. But carrying a letter from the Army Chief to Iran's Supreme Leader shows how much power the military still holds there. The civilian government seems like a mere formality in these matters.
The US and Israel bombed Iran in February and now they want peace talks? The timing seems off. Pakistan's involvement is interesting but I wonder what India thinks about this. We've had good relations with both US and Iran traditionally. Hope our外交 (diplomacy) team is watching closely. The whole West Asia situation is scary for everyone.
Pakistan as a mediator? That's like asking a pyromaniac to be a firefighter. They've been destabilizing the region for decades with their proxy wars. But if even a broken clock is right twice a day, maybe they'll manage to de-escalate things. The real question is: what's in it for Pakistan? They rarely do anything without self-interest.
As an Indian, I'm watching this closely. Pakistan's military establishment has traditionally been close to the US, but now they're cozying up to Iran too? Interesting balancing act. The letter from Army Chief Munir to Khamenei suggests the civilian interior minister is just a messenger. Real power in Pakistan still lies with Rawalpindi. Hope these talks lead to peace though - our diaspora in Gulf countries would benefit.
The fact that Pakistan even has a role here shows how desperate the US is for any channel to Iran.
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