Pakistan’s army chief was expected in Iran on Thursday as Islamabad continues to play a mediating role in efforts to end the Middle East war, even as U.S. President Donald Trump warned that negotiations were “on the borderline” between a deal and renewed strikes.
Field Marshal Asim Munir, a powerful figure in Pakistan’s foreign relations, was reported to be holding talks with Iranian authorities. His visit comes after a ceasefire on April 8 halted fighting launched weeks earlier by the U.S. and Israel, though attempts to secure a lasting peace have stalled.
Pakistan previously hosted direct negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials in April, the only such talks since the war began on February 28. Munir was central to those discussions, greeting both delegations and showing cordiality with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The talks collapsed, however, with Iran accusing Washington of making “excessive demands.”
Since then, both sides have exchanged proposals, but tensions remain high. Trump told reporters Wednesday that the situation was “right on the borderline” and warned that if Tehran did not provide “100 percent good answers,” military action could resume quickly. Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Washington of seeking to restart the war, vowing a “forceful response” if attacked.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it was reviewing points received from Washington while repeating demands for the release of frozen assets and an end to a U.S. naval blockade. The ceasefire has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Iran imposed restrictions on Hormuz as part of its retaliation, allowing only limited traffic and introducing tolls.
The closure has raised fears of a global economic shock. Hormuz also carries around a third of global fertilizer shipments, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation warned of a potential “severe global food price crisis” if the blockade continues.
Markets showed cautious optimism Thursday, with crude prices edging up 0.5 percent after a sharp drop the previous day. Analysts noted that investors remain wary after weeks of failed negotiations, with the future of Hormuz and the broader conflict still uncertain.
