Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, has taken a central role in mediation efforts between the US and Iran, stepping off a plane in Tehran on Wednesday evening to meet Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi. Dressed in army fatigues, Munir arrived with a new proposal from Washington for a fresh round of talks in Islamabad next week, following failed negotiations between US Vice-President JD Vance and Iranian officials.
Munir's involvement comes after President Donald Trump imposed a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions, yet praised the army chief's “fantastic” efforts. Analysts note that negotiations have been coordinated from Rawalpindi, the army's headquarters, rather than the civilian government in Islamabad. Former Pakistani ambassador Maleeha Lodhi described Munir as the driving force, stating, “Without him this would not work.”
Munir's mediation was instrumental in securing a last-minute ceasefire after Trump's threat that Iran's civilisation would “die” without a deal. He was the third party in the room during US-Iranian talks in Islamabad on Saturday, and has been passing messages as a trusted intermediary between both sides. His role highlights the dominance of Pakistan's military in foreign policy, a pattern long favoured by US presidents over dealings with civilian leaders.
Since his appointment in 2022, Munir has shifted from domestic focus to becoming a global ambassador, visiting the White House twice, overseeing US-Pakistan deals on crypto and mineral mining, and signing a defence pact with Saudi Arabia. His clout grew by rebuilding US-Pakistan ties during Trump's second term, including extraditing high-profile terrorists and nominating Trump for the Nobel peace prize after US intervention in India-Pakistan hostilities in May 2025.
