Field Marshal Asim Munir visits Iran on 24th August: An important move to bring peace to the region I
Dr.Syed Mehboob
Political and Economic Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
email: [email protected]
Despite Iranian leaders' and its people’s desire for peace, unfortunately Trump faced immense pressure of Zionist to not to move towards peace, and many times Trump took U turn and Israeli dictation sabotaged all peace efforts. Pakistan played a very important role in bringing Iranian and US leadership together at the dialogue table. All over the world, peace lovers pinned their hope for success on these dialogues. Israeli aggression jeopardized global peace and the economy, and it is clear that WAR only benefits Israel, and the rest of the world is on the other side to support PEACE.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, once again visited Iran on 24th August to continue efforts to bring peace and security to the region. Field Marsha Asim Munir led an official delegation and the visit aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and the brotherly country Iran and to continue Pakistan’s good offices in support of peace and security in the region. During his highly important visit, the Field Marshal held talks with senior Iranian officials. The visit came amid heightened tension as Iran retaliated against the threat and rhetoric of the US president and his plans for sanctions that could further put a strain on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s already weaker economy. US threatened the toughest sanctions in history on Iran. Earlier, despite the US and Israel killing the top military and political leadership of Iran by US and Israel, they failed to bring about a desire to change the regime, and despite Ayatollah Khamenei’s martyrdom, the Iranian nation exhibited great resilience and complete unity among them. A deep and strong faith in Almighty Allah is the core strength of the Iranian nation.
Oil shipments are at a virtual standstill in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran threatening to strike any unauthorized oil tankers that try to transit the vital waterway, and Iran’s economy is already under pressure from sanctions.
Pakistan has been leading mediation efforts between the two sides in the ongoing war, which began with the US and Israeli unjustified, illegal strikes on Iran in February 2026. Less than two months after the beginning of the war, Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between the two sides on April 8, 2026, and Islamabad hosted direct talks between the US and Iran on April 11 and 12, 2026. The mediation efforts also led to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17 between the US and Iran in Geneva. The MoU set a framework to move towards a permanent end to the war. While hostilities have renewed between the two sides since then, Pakistan remains engaged in mediation efforts, with CDF Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi having made multiple visits to Iran in recent months.
Pakistan and Iran held discussions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and bringing an "expedited termination" of the US-Iran conflict in the Middle East.
During the visit, Field Marshal Munir called on Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian supreme leader's representative on the Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei, Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. The two sides also exchanged views on regional peace and the ways to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the disputes. Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between the US and Iran in efforts to end the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Islamabad brokered a two-week ceasefire between the two sides on April 8, bringing six weeks of fighting to a temporary halt, and has since continued to relay messages between Washington and Tehran.
The discussion during the visit focused on regional de-escalation, breaking the military stalemate and exploring a negotiated settlement to restore regional peace and stability. Pakistan remained engaged alongside its brotherly countries in sincere concerted efforts towards resolving the crisis in the Middle East and the Gulf and “with respect to the standoff between the US and Iran”.
The visit underscored Islamabad’s sincere and constructive role in bridging differences between Washington and Tehran; the Iranian leadership also appreciated Pakistan's efforts towards de-escalation and regional peace.
Field Marshal Asim Munir's August 2026 visit to Tehran was crucial for mediating an end to the US-Iran conflict and easing regional tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts described this visit of Asim Munir very positively, as productive and constructive. During Field Marshal Asim Munir’s separate meetings with Iranian officials, Tehran also stressed the need for Washington to change its approach and fulfill its commitments under the disputed understanding. Pezeshkian called on the United States to change its tone and approach toward Iran, while Asim Munir said Pakistan would continue its role as a facilitator. Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also said Washington must take practical steps toward implementing the terms of the understanding..
The Iranian officials described Washington’s approach as contradictory, saying that the United States was increasing pressure on Iran through military threats and new sanctions while simultaneously sending direct and indirect messages seeking negotiations. They said the main purpose of Munir’s visit appeared to have been to help revive the stalled political process. Iran supports resolving issues through political and peaceful channels but would not accept concessions under US pressure. He added that Tehran’s position remains supportive of a political process, provided Iran’s interests and the commitments agreed upon by both sides are taken into account.
The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast lies the Musandam Peninsula, under the Musandam Governorate of Oman, with a portion of the southwest of the peninsula under the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The strait is 104 miles ( 9 nmi, 167 km) long, with a width varying from about 60 mi or 97 km. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points. During 2023–2025, 20% of the world'sliquified natural gas and 25% of seaborne oil trade passed through the strait annually. It is a major route of petroleum products for Europe and Asia and is critical for Europe's energy supply. It is also the only maritime route for several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq, and disruption to the strait can cause severe supply shortages.
Before the 2026 Israel-US war against Iran, the strait had not been closed for any extended time during Middle East conflicts (unlike the Strait of Tiran/ Bab el Mandeb ), although Iran occasionally threatened to close the strait, and preparations to mine it have been undertaken.
Six months after the United States and Israel’s illegal and inhuman war against Iran, the war that Trump called a “little excursion “ has become a deeply unpopular stalemate that threatens to derail his presidency. Iran is steadfast, having unwavering and full faith in Almighty Allah; it did not surrender, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted, and there is no clear path to ending the conflict that Trump once predicted would be over in four weeks. Now, in apparent recognition that further military strikes won't force concessions from Iran, the U.S. is reverting to a campaign of economic pressure in hopes of further weakening Iran's government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told allies it's unlikely the U.S. will launch new attacks "for the time being." The war was unpopular at the outset and has become more so. Trump's approval rating has fallen from 40% to 33% since the conflict began, according to media polls, as rising gas prices have undercut his 2024 campaign promise to lower costs for Americans.
Trump, who campaigned on a promise to end wars, has argued that Iran's missile buildup and nuclear ambitions required action, but he has not persuaded most voters. Just 31% of the country approves of the conflict, according to the polling. That's a lower number than other recent U.S. conflicts at a similar stage, including the war in Afghanistan, which had approval ratings above 50% for years in Gallup polls. Voter anger over high prices poses a problem for Trump's Republican Party before November's midterm elections, when it must defend narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. ( Continued )
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