Pezeshkian and Pakistan army chief discuss mediation

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed mediation efforts with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during a meeting in Tehran on October 20, as Iran set out conditions it says must be met before negotiations with the United States can begin. No specific mediation proposal or agreement was reported. The meeting’s discussion of mediation and regional developments was reported by Iran’s Nournews. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Munir’s visit was primarily focused on bilateral relations and cooperation between Iran and Pakistan, with some exchanges involving negotiations. The reports did not describe any concrete outcome from the meeting. In remarks carried by Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, Pezeshkian said the United States must end pressure and threats and lift sanctions before negotiations. He also said Washington should explain why it started the war. Those remarks reflect the Iranian president’s stated position and do not establish that talks are underway. An Iranian government readout, as reported by Reuters, said Washington could not earn Tehran’s trust until it met seven Iranian conditions related to reopening the Strait of...