Pakistan's army chief in Iran as US's Rubio says slight progress' in talks

Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran to support mediation efforts to end the war involving Israel and the United States that began on February 28. He was received by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also present. The trip follows earlier Pakistani mediation that helped secure a temporary ceasefire on April 8 and hosted high-level US-Iran talks on April 11-12. Pakistani sources said Munir would discuss Iran-US talks, regional peace and stability, and other key issues. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said gaps between Tehran and Washington are deep, and negotiations focus on ending the war, not nuclear issues at this stage. US President Donald Trump said Iran wants a deal and that the US acted forcefully, insisting Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

"Field Marshal Asim Munir is in Iran as part of ongoing mediation efforts to end Israel and the United States's war that began on February 28. Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported, citing the Pakistan Army. On arrival, he was received and warmly welcomed by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, IRNA said, adding that Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was also present at the reception."

"It is the second such trip to Tehran by Munir amid Pakistani mediation efforts to end the war. Islamabad helped secure a temporary ceasefire between the warring sides on April 8, and later hosted the highest-level talks between the US and Iran since 1979 on April 11-12. During this visit to Iran, unnamed Pakistani sources told the Anadolu news agency that Munir will discuss Iran-US talks, regional peace and stability, and other important issues."

"Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Friday. Iranian state media quoted Baghaei as saying the turning point or a decisive situation has been reached, adding that the gaps between Tehran and Washington are deep and significant. We cannot necessarily say that we have reached a point where an agreement is close, he said. The focus of the negotiations is on ending the war. Details related to the nuclear issue are not being discussed at this stage."

"Speaking at the White House on Friday, US President Donald Trump said, Iran is dying to make a deal. We'll see what happens. But we hit them hard, and we had no choice because Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. They cannot have it, Trump added."

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