Islamabad says momentum gained during high-level meetings could pave way for lasting peace and restoration of Islamabad MoU

By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced that "significant progress" was made during a day-long visit to Tehran by the country's army chief and himself, as Islamabad pushes to revive stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States.

In a post on X, Naqvi described a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as "very positive and productive," stating that discussions focused on the Iran-US conflict, tensions in the Middle East, and steps needed to restore the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

"The Iranian President candidly shared his Government's perspective and concerns, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved," Naqvi wrote, adding that the talks concluded on a "highly positive note" .

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, along with Naqvi, held comprehensive talks with Iran's top political and security leadership, including President Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

According to Pakistan's military, discussions centered on measures to prevent further escalation, the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and an "expedited termination" of the conflict.

Ghalibaf, who also heads Iran's negotiating team, told Munir that Washington had repeatedly failed to honor its commitments under the Islamabad MoU, stressing that the United States must change its behavior and take practical steps to implement the terms of the agreement.

He reiterated Iran's rejection of yielding to American pressure, stating that Tehran is pursuing the implementation of the memorandum's terms.

Iranian leaders appreciated Pakistan's "constructive" role and "sincere efforts" toward facilitating dialogue, de-escalation, and a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The visit came as part of Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to end the stalemate in the US-Iran conflict that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes on targets inside Iran. According to multiple Pakistani government sources, Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump before departing for Tehran, with Washington urging Islamabad to use its influence to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

The US and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on June 17 and launched negotiations toward a final agreement, but the talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Naqvi expressed hope that the momentum generated by the talks would pave the way for further progress and lasting peace in the region