A handout photo made available by the Iranian Presidency shows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) greeting Pakistan’s Minister of Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi during a meeting in Tehran from earlier this month. Photo by Iranian presidency/EPA
Aug. 25 (UPI) — Pakistani and Iranian officials have concluded a meeting in Tehran, as Islamabad attempts to resurrect stalled talks between Iran and the United States on ending the six-month-long war.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi of Pakistan said in a statement that he and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir had a “very positive and productive meeting” with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“The Iranian president candidly shared his government’s perspective and concerns, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved,” Naqvi said in a statement.
“Significant progress was made, and the meeting concluded on a highly positive note.”
Naqvi said discussions focused on the Iran-U.S. war, tensions in the Middle East and steps needed to restore an Islamabad-mediated memorandum of understanding to end the war.
A readout of the meeting from Pezeshkian’s office states both he and Munir agreed that the United States needed to change its approach to Iran and comply with the MOU.
“The United States must change its tone and approach in its dealings with Iran, because relying on coercion and bullying will only complicate the implementation process,” Pezeshkian said.
The MOU was signed mid-June by Iran and the United States, laying the foundation and raising hopes for the end of their war. It established a 60-day negotiations period that was to end Aug. 17, but the accord collapsed early last month over differences concerning control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy transportation route in the Middle East.
Iran has enforced a military blockade of the strait since the war began Feb. 28 and seeks to maintain control over ships that transit it, while the United States is using it military and economic might to regain freedom of navigation of the chokepoint.
On Monday, the United States announced further tightening of its financial vises on Iran.
