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Tehran is awaiting an upcoming visit from Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, Iranian media reported on Thursday, as part of mediation efforts led by Islamabad. This comes at a time when Iran is reviewing a new American proposal aimed at ending the war in the Middle East.
The announcement of Munir’s anticipated visit—an influential figure playing a growing role in Pakistan's foreign relations—comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that negotiations to end the war stand at a "crossroads" between reaching a deal and resuming military strikes.
A ceasefire took effect on April 8, putting an end to open hostilities in the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, but negotiating efforts have yet to result in a permanent peace agreement.
A war of words has replaced the open conflict, but the stalemate continues to weigh heavily on the global economy, leaving everyone from investors to farmers in a state of uncertainty.
Iran's Students News Agency (ISNA) revealed Thursday that Munir is expected to visit, noting that the trip aims to continue "talks and consultations" with Iranian authorities, without providing further details. Several other local media outlets carried the same report.
In April, Pakistan hosted a round of direct negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials, which has been the only such round since the outbreak of the war.
Munir was at the heart of those talks, personally receiving both delegations upon their arrival and demonstrating remarkably cordial vibes with the heads of the negotiating teams: U.S. Vice President JD Vance and the Speaker of the Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
However, those talks ultimately ended in failure, with Iran accusing the United States of putting forward "excessive" demands. Since then, both sides have exchanged multiple proposals, while the threat of a renewed war remains active amidst ongoing verbal warnings.
Trump told reporters on Wednesday: "It’s absolutely at a crossroads, believe me. If we don’t get the right answers, things are going to go south very quickly. We are all on high alert."
He added: "We have to get the right answers; they must be 100% complete answers."
"A Strong Response"
On Wednesday, Qalibaf accused Washington of seeking to resume the war, warning of a "strong response" if Iran comes under attack.
"The enemy's movements, both overt and covert, that despite economic and political pressure, they have not abandoned their military objectives and are seeking to start a new war," Qalibaf said.
In contrast, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran is studying points received from Washington, reiterating Iran's demands for the release of its frozen assets abroad and an end to the U.S. naval blockade on its ports.
Trump faces domestic political pressure as energy costs rise. The ceasefire halted active battles but did not lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) normally passes.
The future of Hormuz remains a primary point of contention in negotiations, amid growing fears that the global economy could be further impacted as pre-war oil inventories dwindle.
Iran imposed restrictions on Hormuz as part of its wartime response and, in recent weeks, has only allowed a limited number of ships to pass under a transit fee system.
Approximately one-third of global fertilizer shipments also pass through Hormuz, raising fears of soaring food prices and severe shortages if the closure drags on.
The newly established Iranian authority overseeing the Strait of Hormuz announced that its declared scope of control extends to the waters located south of the UAE port of Fujairah, which houses oil infrastructure designed to bypass the strategic waterway.
The authority added that this includes the area located between the line extending from "Kuh-e Mubarak in Iran to the south of Fujairah in the UAE (...) and the line connecting the tip of Qeshm Island in Iran to Umm Al-Quwain in the UAE."
It explained that "transit through this zone for the purpose of passing through the Strait of Hormuz requires coordination with and permission from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority."
This move drew sharp condemnation from the UAE. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, dismissed these Iranian ambitions as mere "pipe dreams."
Gargash wrote on X: "Following the blatant Iranian aggression, the regime is attempting to establish a new reality born out of a clear military defeat. However, attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or infringe upon the maritime sovereignty of the UAE are nothing but pipe dreams."
On Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warned that a prolonged closure of the strait threatens a structural shock to the agri-food sector, which could lead to a severe global food price crisis within 6 to 12 months.
Financial markets experienced a wave of cautious optimism on Thursday, with crude prices rising by about 0.5%. Oil had fallen by more than 5% on Wednesday, while U.S. stocks gained.
Analysts noted that investors remain wary after weeks of false starts in the negotiations.
AFP