Pakistan’s army chief meets Iran’s president in Tehran

TEHRAN - Pakistan’s powerful army chief Asim Munir met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Aug 24, state television reported, as Islamabad tries to mediate a resolution to the Middle East war.The meeting took place after US President Donald Trump spoke last week with Munir, a US source familiar with the matter told AFP earlier on Aug 24.Pakistan has played a key role in efforts to halt the conflict between Iran and the United States, brokering a memorandum of understanding in June, but peace negotiations currently appear stalled.Munir also met in Tehran with Iran’s parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as well as Mohsen Rezaei, head of the country’s highest national security body, according to Iranian state television.Iran’s foreign ministry had said on Aug 23 that Munir’s visit would be part of “Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to help consolidate peace and security in the region”.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Aug 24 laid out plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran, expanding Washington’s secondary sanctions threats and warning of dire consequences for countries that do not join the campaign. AFP