The visit comes as Islamabad has taken on an increasingly active diplomatic role since the outbreak of hostilities in late February following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. Pakistan has maintained contacts with both Tehran and Washington in an effort to prevent broader regional escalation and support negotiations toward a lasting ceasefire.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA, citing a diplomatic source in Islamabad, reported earlier that Munir had departed for Tehran and was expected to hold meetings with senior Iranian officials. A Pakistani security source separately confirmed the army chief’s visit to Arab News on condition of anonymity.

Munir is expected to be joined by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who has already held meetings with Iranian leaders twice this week as part of Islamabad’s diplomatic outreach.

Separately, a Qatari negotiating delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday in coordination with the United States to help secure an agreement aimed at ending the conflict and resolving outstanding disputes, according to a source familiar with the discussions cited by Reuters.

Qatar has played a prominent mediation role in several regional conflicts, including negotiations related to the Gaza war. However, Doha had largely avoided direct involvement in efforts surrounding the Iran conflict after coming under Iranian missile and drone attacks during the recent hostilities.

The renewed diplomatic activity follows comments by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said on Friday that talks with Iran had shown “slight progress,” while cautioning against overstating the advances made so far.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Rubio said there had been “a little bit of movement” in negotiations and described continued dialogue as a positive development. His remarks came days after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had delayed a military strike against Iran because “serious negotiations” were underway.

Trump has repeatedly warned that the ceasefire established in mid-April could collapse if negotiations fail to produce an agreement, while discussions have continued amid shifting expectations over the terms of a potential deal.

NATO foreign ministers are also expected to discuss possible alliance involvement in helping secure maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz after the conflict, underscoring the broader strategic implications of any settlement reached between Washington and Tehran.

The discussions in Tehran came as Iran said it was reviewing Washington’s latest position on ending the conflict that erupted after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and has remained paused under a fragile ceasefire since April 8.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian and Naqvi reviewed “the latest regional developments and the diplomatic consultations related to the Iran-U.S. talks,” while emphasizing continued political coordination and regional cooperation.

Naqvi conveyed the “messages and views” of Pakistani officials regarding ongoing negotiations and the importance of maintaining dialogue, IRNA reported.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary since the conflict began, hosting rare direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials last month as Islamabad intensified diplomatic outreach aimed at preventing renewed escalation in the Gulf region.

Pezeshkian praised Pakistan’s efforts to support regional stability and stressed the importance of continued coordination between Tehran and Islamabad, according to Iranian media.
The war, triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran in late February, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic energy corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

Although direct fighting halted under the ceasefire agreement, negotiations have shown limited progress in recent weeks.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said military action remained an option if Tehran failed to respond positively to U.S. proposals.

“Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press.
Asked how long Washington would wait, Trump replied: “It could be a few days, but it could go very quickly.”

Trump also reiterated that the United States would not permit Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“We’re in the final stages of Iran,” Trump said earlier. “Either have a deal or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty.”

Iran said it was examining Washington’s latest views after submitting a new proposal this week. Iranian officials indicated the offer included demands previously rejected by Trump, including sanctions relief, compensation for war-related damage, release of frozen assets and changes linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have received U.S. views and are reviewing them,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei was quoted as saying by Nour News.

The uncertainty surrounding negotiations has contributed to volatility in global energy markets and increased political pressure on Trump ahead of U.S. midterm elections later this year amid rising fuel prices.

Iran’s state-run reported that the two ministers discussed bilateral relations, including measures to facilitate border trade, transit and the exchange of goods between the neighboring countries during Naqvi’s unannounced visit to Tehran.

The meeting comes as regional tensions remain elevated following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28 that prompted Iranian retaliation and restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route carrying roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies.

A ceasefire announced on April 8 has largely held, though negotiations between Washington and Tehran have made limited progress after an initial round of direct talks in Islamabad.

IRNA said Momeni thanked Pakistan for its “friendly and brotherly stance” toward Iran and described relations between the two countries as rooted in longstanding historical ties. Iranian media reports did not directly reference Pakistan’s mediation role in the Iran-U.S. dispute.

Pakistan’s government also did not publicly disclose details of Naqvi’s visit. A Pakistani interior ministry source confirmed to Arab News earlier that the minister had arrived in Iran but declined to elaborate on the purpose of the trip.

Iran’s mehrnews separately reported Naqvi’s arrival in Tehran for consultations with senior Iranian officials.
Naqvi had accompanied Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir during a visit to Tehran in April as Islamabad intensified diplomatic contacts with regional capitals in an effort to encourage dialogue between Tehran and Washington.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said last month it remained engaged in efforts to reduce regional tensions. Foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad that “the clock on diplomacy has not stopped” and that discussions aimed at preserving the peace process were continuing.

Islamabad and Tehran have simultaneously sought to expand bilateral trade through border markets and barter arrangements designed to bypass banking and currency constraints. Iran has increasingly relied on alternative trading mechanisms amid sanctions pressure and foreign exchange shortages.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Pakistan in August last year, when the two countries signed agreements targeting bilateral trade growth to $10 billion by 2028.

The visit also followed remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New Delhi on Friday that distrust toward Washington remained the principal obstacle in negotiations with the United States, while indicating Iran remained open to diplomatic support from regional countries.

Tensions in Gulf energy markets have persisted despite the ceasefire, with restrictions around Hormuz and continuing U.S. measures targeting Iranian ports contributing to shipping uncertainty and oil market volatility.