Iran’s 2nd Meeting with Pakistani Army Chief Fuels Speculation on Message Exchanges

According to Tanim’s correspondent in Islamabad, the Iranian negotiating team visited the top Pakistani general again on Saturday before their meeting with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif.

There is a possibility of a new exchange of messages.

The Iranian delegation once met with Chief of the Army Staff of Pakistan last night after arriving in Islamabad.

Following the assassination of late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several military commanders on February 28, the US and Israel launched an extensive military offensive against Iran. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces carried out attacks on American and Israeli positions in the region and the occupied territories, showcasing their capability to retaliate effectively. Contrary to the aggressors' expectations of a quick victory, Iran's powerful counterattacks for 40 days inflicted significant damage on US and Israeli military assets.

In an effort to de-escalate the situation, Pakistani mediation led to a two-week ceasefire agreement on April 8 that allows for negotiations in Islamabad. Iran has laid out a ten-point plan for the talks, which includes demands for the withdrawal of US forces, the lifting of sanctions, and control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian government maintains a stance of distrust towards the US, asserting that the negotiations are not meant to resolve the conflict but rather to shift the battleground into the diplomatic arena.