Trump holds phone talks with Pakistan's Army Chief before Tehran mediation visit

Trump holds phone talks with Pakistan's Army Chief before Tehran mediation visit

US President Donald Trump held telephone discussions with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir last week, focusing on Iran ahead of the Pakistani military leader's mediation visit to Tehran on Monday, according to CNN.

A source familiar with the conversation confirmed that Trump and Munir discussed Iran during the call. The contact came as Munir traveled to the Iranian capital for high-level meetings aimed at resolving ongoing disputes over implementation of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 19, 2026, in Switzerland, which established a 60-day negotiation framework to end hostilities and place limits on Iran's nuclear program.

During his Tehran visit, Munir met with Major General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. Rezaei told the Pakistani military chief that the United States "must change its behaviour" and take practical steps to implement the terms of the memorandum.

Rezaei emphasized Iran's management of security in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway that carries approximately 25 percent of the world's oil trade and 19 percent of global liquefied natural gas trade. He referred to Pakistan's ongoing efforts to ensure implementation of the agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Parliamentary speaker criticizes US compliance

In a separate meeting on Monday, Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has served in the position since May 2020 and sits on Iran's Supreme National Security Council, met with Munir and criticized the United States for what he described as repeated breaches of commitments under the agreement.

According to a statement Ghalibaf shared on Telegram, the Iranian official reviewed "numerous instances" of US breaches in implementing the memorandum with the Pakistani Army Chief.

"The commitments of the parties in the Memorandum of Understanding are clear, and it was America that, by breaching its commitments, prevented the establishment of stability in the region and created another reason for distrust in this country," Ghalibaf stated.

Under the June agreement, the US committed to lift its naval blockade and restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, while Iran pledged to reopen the waterway to pre-war volumes within the same timeframe. The accord followed conflict that began on February 28, 2026, with joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which triggered Iranian retaliations including efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz through attacks on commercial shipping.

Pakistan's mediation role continues

Ghalibaf emphasized that Tehran remains committed to pursuing implementation of the memorandum and is not being swayed by external pressure. "We are pursuing the implementation of the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, and it is America that must adhere to its commitments based on the Memorandum of Understanding," the statement read.

During the meetings, Munir indicated that he would continue efforts to restore stability in the region, according to the Iranian statement.

Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran, sharing a 900-kilometer border with Iran and adopting a policy of official neutrality in the conflict. The country hosted the Islamabad Talks on April 11-12, 2026, marking the first direct negotiations between the US and Iran since 1979.

Munir, who was appointed Army Chief in November 2022 and promoted to Field Marshal in May 2025, becoming only the second officer in Pakistan's history to attain the five-star rank, has emerged as a central figure in shuttle diplomacy efforts between the two adversaries.