Iran says Pakistan's army chief to visit Tehran on Monday

Iran says Pakistan's army chief to visit Tehran on Monday

Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, will travel to Tehran on Monday, to engage in talks with senior Iranian officials. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced the visit on Sunday, stating it aims to bolster bilateral cooperation and support Pakistan’s efforts to help strengthen peace and security in the region.

The visit occurs as Pakistan serves as a key mediator in negotiations between Iran and the United States. This diplomatic effort follows a war that began in February with strikes on Iran by Israel and the U.S.

While the U.S. And Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to initiate negotiations toward a final agreement, progress has since stalled. According to reportage, the two nations disagree over freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and security guarantees. Tensions escalated further between July 8 and July 24, when the U.S. Launched attacks on targets inside Iran, and Tehran responded by striking U.S. Military equipment and facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

Munir's agenda in Tehran is expected to be extensive. Two Pakistani government sources confirmed the visit to Reuters, noting that the army chief will discuss the situation following the Pakistan-Turkey-Saudi Arab Agreement, Houthi issues, and peace under an Islamabad memorandum of understanding. The talks will also address threats from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding tougher sanctions on Iran.

The timing of the visit coincides with a scheduled press conference on Monday, August 24, where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to announce measures against Tehran that have never been seen. U.S. Officials have described these planned sanctions as the toughest sanctions in history. President Trump has warned of economic consequences for any country providing any type of lifeline to Iran.

Washington is considering several aggressive economic options to isolate the Islamic Republic:

• Chinese Refiners: Secondary sanctions on independent teapot refiners in China, which absorb much of Iran's oil exports. Kpler data indicates China buys more than 80% of Iran's shipped oil.
• Financial Institutions: Targeting large Chinese banks suspected of facilitating oil payments or weapons procurement.
• Aviation and Logistics: Further restrictions on Iran's aviation sector to disrupt trade.
• Circumvention Crackdown: Expanding sanctions against oil shippers, buyers, and currency exchangers.
• Land Blockade: A more aggressive option involving Iran's neighbors, though experts suggest this would be difficult to execute.

Iran's economy is already under immense pressure, and oil shipments are at a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has threatened to strike any unauthorized oil tankers attempting to transit the waterway. Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s new Supreme National Security Council chief, warned that if neighboring countries join the U.S. Economic campaign, not a single drop of oil would leave the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf.

Rezaei stated that the Strait of Hormuz will only reopen once the U.S. Fulfills its commitments. He noted that while an agreement on a proposed route exists with Oman, it remains on paper for now. He further claimed that once the waterway reopens, Iran intends to manage it and charge a fee for its use.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended the June memorandum of understanding with the U.S., calling it the best way to exit a neither war nor peace situation. He stated there is not a single provision in this agreement that amounts to capitulation and argued that war offered no solution.

Conversely, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the U.S. Economic campaign as a longstanding bullying tactic, while Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, spokesperson for the Iranian army, claimed that strong government backing has allowed the military to maintain its capabilities despite economic difficulties.

Syria has cut contacts with Israel following an attack on a Syrian airbase on August 18, though Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Reuters that negotiations over a security deal are expected to resume soon.