While the United States threatens to announce measures of “unprecedented economic isolation” against Iran, there are reports that U.S. President Trump hopes Iran will return to the negotiating table.
According to Reuters reported on August 24th, three Pakistani sources revealed that Trump spoke with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff Asim Mengal last week. Subsequently, Mengal traveled to Tehran on the 24th.
One of the sources said that the main demand from the US is for Pakistan to use its influence to get Iran back onto the negotiating table.
According to two Pakistani sources, the call was initiated by Trump.
The Pakistani military confirmed that Munir arrived in Tehran on the 24th, accompanied by Pakistan's Interior Minister Nekhvi. The Pakistani military stated that this visit is 'part of Pakistan's efforts to promote regional peace and stability.'
The White House Press Secretary's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It is still unclear what specific details Muirne discussed with Trump.
The US-Iran conflict has been prolonged, and the United States is deeply mired in trouble. Last week, Trump announced that he would take "the most severe economic measures ever taken against any country," and threatened that all countries providing "any form of lifeline" to Iran would face economic consequences. In response, Iran stated that if the economic war continued, they would cut off oil exports from the Persian Gulf.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on social media on the evening of the 23rd that the conflict between the United States and Iran is entering a “final stage,” and he threatened to cut off every economic lifeline of the Iranian regime, until Tehran becomes “isolated and without support.” Mnuchin is scheduled to hold a press conference on the 24th, where he may announce specific measures to pressure Iran.
Since the beginning of this year, Pakistan has played a key mediating role between the United States and Iran, including facilitating the signing of an interim peace agreement between the two sides in June. At the same time, Pakistan has always maintained its trade partnership with Iran.
A Pakistani source said that Munir is expected to meet with someone close to Iran’s supreme leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on the 24th.
Regarding the relations between the United States and Iran, another Pakistani source said, “There is a trust deficit between the two sides.” The source added that Mounir’s agenda for Monday was precisely to alleviate this lack of mutual trust.
A Pakistani government source said that although the tensions between the US and Iran are the focus of this visit, it is expected that Munir will also discuss the recent attacks by Houthi militants against Pakistan's ally Saudi Arabia, as well as the defense agreements signed recently between Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
