Pakistan army chief arrives in Tehran as Iran seeks leverage in US talks

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has arrived in Tehran with an official delegation to meet senior Iranian officials, amid <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/08/attempt-to-break-us-iran-diplomatic-deadlock-up-against-growing-appetite-for-major-war/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/08/attempt-to-break-us-iran-diplomatic-deadlock-up-against-growing-appetite-for-major-war/">stalled diplomatic efforts</a> to end the war between Iran and the US. Field Marshal Munir is in the Iranian capital to discuss efforts to resolve the conflict and broader regional developments, the official Irna news agency reported. Islamabad has played a central role in mediating talks between Washington and Tehran, maintaining close contact with both sides. Qatar, another mediator in the conflict, said on Tuesday that communication between Iran and the US has "not stopped" and the aim was to reach a solution "as soon as possible”. But Ibrahim Al Hashmi, media director at Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, warned that threats to cut internet cables in the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/11/iran-says-us-response-to-proposal-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-is-insufficient/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/11/iran-says-us-response-to-proposal-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-is-insufficient/">Strait of Hormuz</a>, along with dangers caused by sea mines and oil spills, would harm regional countries, including Iran, and urged Tehran to respect freedom of navigation and environmental protections. His statement comes after Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said regional <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/10/19/russias-lavrov-heads-to-tehran-as-gulf-states-press-moscow-over-iran-attacks/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/10/19/russias-lavrov-heads-to-tehran-as-gulf-states-press-moscow-over-iran-attacks/">undersea cables</a>, data centres and AI sites could be attacked if hostilities with the US resume. Field Marshal Munir’s visit came as Reuters quoted Iranian officials as saying Tehran had been deliberately prolonging negotiations with Washington to weaken US President Donald Trump politically before <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/20/us-midterms-iran-foreign-policy/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/10/20/us-midterms-iran-foreign-policy/">November’s midterm elections</a>, while preparing for possible renewed military action. “Iran is preparing for renewed Israeli and US attacks, not for a deal with America to end the war,” one Iranian official was quoted as saying. “The clerical establishment is determined not to give Trump a political victory.” The same report quoted Iranian officials as saying there was little prospect of a breakthrough before the November 3 vote. Tehran wants its conditions for ending hostilities and reopening the strait to be met before nuclear negotiations begin. Iran has proposed reopening the vital waterway within seven days under its control, in exchange for the lifting of the US maritime blockade, easing restrictions on Iranian oil exports, the release of frozen assets and an end to hostilities on all fronts. The deadlock comes as Iran’s economy faces mounting pressure from sanctions and the blockade. Shipping through the strait remains severely disrupted. Iranian hardline news agency Fars suggested Field Marshal Munir’s visit was linked to rising oil prices, reporting that the trip had appeared unlikely to happen as late as Sunday, but his trip was finalised on Monday afternoon as the price of crude approached $110 a barrel. A source told Fars that <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/08/24/pakistans-army-chief-visits-iran-on-mediating-mission/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/08/24/pakistans-army-chief-visits-iran-on-mediating-mission/">previous visits</a> by mediators had helped to lower oil prices, but had produced no significant progress in negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Tehran’s proposal remained on the table and that messages continued to be exchanged through mediators. The Reuters report also said Tehran believed US and Israeli attacks could resume, despite Mr Trump saying Washington would not strike Iran again before November 3. The officials said Tehran’s distrust of Washington had deepened after previous attacks that derailed diplomatic efforts, including strikes in June 2025 and the launch of the war in February, shortly after another round of talks ended. The threat of renewed military action extends to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/07/15/what-is-pickaxe-mountain-the-suspected-iranian-nuclear-site-trump-says-is-in-us-crosshairs/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/07/15/what-is-pickaxe-mountain-the-suspected-iranian-nuclear-site-trump-says-is-in-us-crosshairs/">Pickaxe Mountain</a>, a deeply buried site near Natanz nuclear complex. Tehran has warned that any US attack on the site would lead to retaliation. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei dismissed claims Washington could strike the site without facing a response, describing the idea as “nothing more than a claim”. “Do you believe Iran would say ‘strike’ and we would remain silent?” Mr Baghaei said. He added that “the era of hitting and running is over”. He said Iran would not leave any attack unanswered and warned the US would suffer a blow at least equal in magnitude to any strike it carried out. Mr Trump has threatened a possible strike on Pickaxe Mountain, where Iran is building a heavily fortified underground facility whose precise purpose remains unclear.