Pakistan army chief in Tehran for talks with Iranian foreign minister ahead of expected fresh US talks

A high-level Pakistani delegation led by the army chief arrived in Iran’s capital Tehran on Wednesday for talks with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ahead of possible fresh negotiations with the US.

Field Marshal Asim Munir is accompanied by Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and others, who arrived in Tehran “as part of the ongoing mediation efforts,” said the army in an official statement.

Araghchi himself received the delegation on arrival.

Munir’s talks with Araghchi will outline a plan for potential talks between Iran and the US, Iran’s state-run media reported.

Carrying Washington’s new message, the Pakistani delegation is expected to discuss upcoming negotiations in meetings with Iranian officials, IRIB News reported.

The US and Iran held rare direct talks in Pakistan over the weekend aimed at ending their conflict, but the negotiations ended without an agreement.

Islamabad hosted the weekend talks after Pakistan on April 8 secured a two-week ceasefire, 39 days after the US and Israel launched their war on Iran.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signaled that a second round of talks with Iran could be held in Pakistan.

Munir has been directly involved in Pakistan's mediation efforts to end the war between the US and Iran.

The war has left some 3,300 people dead in Iran, which has imposed control on the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supplies, especially to Asian nations.

Washington on its own, since Monday, has implemented a blockade of the key waterway.

At least 13 US service members have also been killed and hundreds of others wounded during the conflict.