US-Iran War: Pakistan’s Asim Munir arrives in Tehran days after Trump call – why does it matter?

US-Iran War: Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian officials. Tehran has descrubed the visit as part of the ‘very good and distinguished relations’ between the two countries, news agencies reported.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Munir's visit was scheduled for Monday and would take place within the framework of bilateral relations between the two countries.

"The bilateral relationship between Iran and Pakistan is truly going through one of its best stages, and both sides are determined to expand these relations day by day, in all areas," Baghaei said during a press briefing ahead of Munir's arrival.

The visit comes as Pakistan seeks to play a mediating role amid heightened regional tensions and continuing friction between Iran and the United States.

Munir is accompanied by Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan's military confirmed

Pakistan role in US-Iran war

Pakistan has previously facilitated contacts between Washington and Tehran amid the West Asia conflict, including efforts toward an interim understanding in June, which subsequently collapsed.

Asked whether Munir's visit was connected to the scheduled visit of Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi to Tehran, Baghaei said the two visits were unrelated and only coincided in timing.

"The Oman visit has nothing to do with this; it is just almost simultaneous in terms of time," Baghaei said.

Al Busaidi is scheduled to travel to Tehran on Tuesday for talks with Iranian officials, with discussions expected to include bilateral relations, regional security and issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz and maritime traffic.

Munir spoke with Trump before landing in Tehran

Munir reportedly spoke with US President Donald Trump last week, days before his Tehran visit, according to three Pakistani sources quoted by news agency Reuters, with one saying the main US request was to use Pakistan's influence to bring Iran back to negotiations.

Last week's call, which has not been previously reported, was initiated ​by Trump, according to two Pakistani sources, Reuters said.

Trump last week warned of economic consequences against any country that ​provided "any type of lifeline to Iran" as he seeks to isolate the Islamic ​Republic. Iran has in turn vowed to shut down all oil exports ⁠from the Gulf.

Munir is expected to meet with people close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. US-Iran tensions were a key focus of the visit, as per Reuters report.

Munir is also expected to discuss recent attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi fighters on Pakistan’s ally Saudi Arabia, as well as the recently signed mutual defence agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan has played a key mediating role between the US and Iran this year and has remained a trading partner of Iran throughout the recent fighting.

Mecca Joint Defence Agreement

Munir's visit also comes shortly after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement on August 7.

The agreement states that an armed attack against any one of the three countries would be regarded as an attack against all three and provides for enhanced defence cooperation and collective deterrence.

The pact has already faced scrutiny following a Houthi drone attack on Saudi Aramco's Jazan refinery.

The incident occurred just two days after the agreement was signed and prompted questions about how the collective-defence commitment would operate in practice. No immediate military response from Turkiye or Pakistan was publicly announced following the Houthi attack.

Houthis are a rebel group in Yemen that also acts as an Iran-backed proxy.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has described the collective-defence provision as technically comparable to NATO's Article 5, while stressing that members would consult on the nature and scale of assistance following an attack rather than automatically entering combat.

Against this backdrop, Munir's talks in Tehran are expected to draw attention to Pakistan's balancing role. Islamabad maintains close strategic ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye while also maintaining longstanding relations with neighbouring Iran.

(With agency inputs)