Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, visited Iran on Monday as Islamabad seeks to revive talks between Tehran and Washington.
His mission comes as the Trump administration unveiled “the greatest financial offensive ever” against Iran's trade partners in an economic campaign.
Field Marshal Munir and Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran.
A Pakistani source told The National that Field Marshal Munir’s focus is on trying to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table and persuade Tehran not to attack Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, which has a defence partnership with Pakistan.
The source added that Pakistani officials are “hopeful” that Washington and Tehran will return to talks, noting that “something good will happen”.
Pakistan has served as a key mediator in indirect negotiations between the US and Iran. Islamabad said Field Marshal Munir’s trip was part of its efforts “to promote regional peace and stability”.
The White House confirmed to Reuters that US President Donald Trump had called Field Marshal Munir last week. The main request was to bring Iran back into negotiations.
Mr Trump has developed a strong rapport with Field Marshal Munir and Islamabad in general during his second term. Pakistan nominated Mr Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize and credited him with defusing a conflict with India last year.
Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in Tehran come as the US is expected on Monday to broaden the scope of secondary sanctions on firms and countries that do business with Iran, as Washington seeks to isolate the regime's economy in an effort to break the deadlock in the war.
The move was meant to serve as a final notice to countries to sever business ties with Iran as the US steps up its economic pressure campaign, the White House said.
The US and Iran have not conducted direct military strikes on each other for weeks, but their last official face-to-face talks to end the six-month conflict took place in June, and strikes on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have continued.
