Fri, September 18, 2026
Tehran (Web Desk): A high-level Pakistani delegation, including Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, arrived in Tehran as Islamabad continues its diplomatic engagement to help ease tensions between the United States (US) and Iran.
According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR), the delegation is part of ongoing mediation efforts linked to the broader ceasefire process.
The development comes as Pakistan works to convert the current two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran into a more stable and lasting peace framework, while diplomatic sources suggest that a second round of negotiations is likely to be convened in Islamabad by the end of next week.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also confirmed that Pakistani delegation is likely to visit Tehran today which could further facilitate the dialogue.
Speaking to the media in Tehran, Baghaei revealed that the exchange of messages between Iran and US is continuing steadily through Pakistan’s mediation.
He added that diplomatic engagement between the two sides has accelerated since last Sunday, raising prospects for progress in the negotiation process.
Baghaei commended Pakistan’s role in promoting regional stability, noting that messages conveyed through Islamabad carry significant weight in advancing the talks.
Since the initial phase of the ceasefire, multiple communications have already been exchanged between the two countries.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, earlier today, announced that he was permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that China is pleased with him while presenting the decision as a move that benefits both Beijing and the wider international community.
In a post shared on his Truth Social, he suggested that the development reflects cooperation and broader global advantage, while also making remarks about diplomatic understanding with Beijing.
He stated, “I am doing it for them, also And the World. This situation will never happen again. They have agreed not to send weapons to Iran,” he asserted.
He further added a lighter personal remark about his upcoming engagement with Chinese leadership, saying, “President Xi will give me a big, fat, hug when I get there in a few weeks,” referring to Xi Jinping.
Concluding his message on a confident and combative note, he said, “We are working together smartly, and very well! Doesn’t that beat fighting??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at fighting, if we have to — far better than anyone else!!!”
On Tuesday, President Trump said that Washington and Tehran could resume negotiations within the next 48 hours, adding that the United States appears increasingly inclined to hold talks in Pakistan, according to The New York Post.
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” Trump said.
“It’s more likely, you know why? Because the Field Marshal is doing a great job. He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there,“ he told The NY Post. “Why should we go to some country that has nothing to do with it?”
Earlier, in an interview with the same publication, he had described the ongoing diplomatic engagement as “happening, but, you know, a little bit slow”, while suggesting that a second round of direct discussions would most likely be held at a European venue.
In a separate video clip broadcast by Fox News, Trump also remarked that the conflict involving Iran was “very close to over”.
Pakistan recently hosted direct Iran–US negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend, representing the most significant level of engagement between the two countries since 1979.
The talks continued for nearly 21 hours but ended without a conclusive agreement, though both sides indicated that diplomatic engagement was still active.
On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif informed a federal cabinet session that “full efforts” were underway to settle the ongoing dispute.
He further noted that although the ceasefire remained in place, “As I am talking to you, matters that are not resolved, full efforts are underway to resolve them.”
It is pertinent to mention that the ceasefire between the US and Iran, which was brokered on April 8 after weeks of escalating tensions, is set to expire on April 22 and is increasingly viewed as fragile despite still being formally intact.
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