ISLAMABAD: Iran said on Saturday it was reviewing new proposals from the United States conveyed by Pakistan, while signaling it would not compromise or retreat, as Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir pressed for de-escalation during a visit to Tehran.
The proposals were communicated during Munir’s three-day trip, part of Pakistan’s diplomatic push to revive US-Iran negotiations that stalled after an initial round in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that the new US proposals had been put forward through Pakistan’s military leadership and were under consideration in Tehran.
“Recently, with the Pakistani army commander in Tehran as mediator, new proposals have been put forward by the Americans,” it said in a statement shared by Iran’s Mehr News Agency. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is reviewing them and has not yet responded.”
The statement underscored Tehran’s hardening position, saying it “will not make even the slightest compromise,” even as diplomatic efforts continue.
The comments come as uncertainty persists over the next round of talks, with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh saying no date has so far been set, adding that both sides are still working to finalize a framework before resuming negotiations.
The earlier round of talks, mediated by Pakistan, took place amid a temporary truce between the US and Iran on Apr. 11 and lasted for 21 hours. Pakistan has since intensified efforts to restart the process as the ceasefire deadline between the two sides approaches its expiry next week.
Munir called for continued dialogue and diplomacy during his interaction with top Iranian officials, according to the military’s media wing, as Islamabad seeks to turn the fragile peace into a lasting settlement.
Pakistan’s military said the army chief called on Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian and held separate meetings with Speaker of the National Assembly Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Commander of Khatam ul Anbiya Headquarters Major General Ali Abdollahi during his visit.
“The discussions were focused upon bringing sustainable peace to the region, with particular emphasis on the evolving regional security environment, ongoing diplomatic engagements, and collaborative measures aimed at promoting enduring peace and stability in the region,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on the conclusion of the visit.
“The Field Marshal underscored the need for dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of outstanding issues through sustained diplomatic engagements,” it added.
Tensions have meanwhile escalated in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass, with Iranian authorities shutting it down once again amid reports of gunboats firing at international vessels.
