Trump Spoke with Pakistan Army Chief Ahead of Tehran Visit: Report
United States President Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir last week, according to a report by CNN. The call took place days before Munir travelled to Tehran on Monday, the network reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
The source, who spoke to CNN, confirmed that the two leaders discussed Iran during the call. No further details of the conversation were disclosed. The White House and Pakistan's military have not publicly commented on the report.
Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday for talks with Iranian officials, a visit that comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. The situation has been complicated by ongoing friction over Iran's nuclear programme and the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.
During his visit, Munir met with Major General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. According to the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, Rezaei told the Pakistani commander that the United States "must change its behaviour" and take practical steps to implement the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) related to regional stability.
Rezaei also emphasised Iran's security management of the Strait of Hormuz and referenced Pakistan's efforts to establish the 14-point MoU, IRIB reported. The MoU, signed in June, was intended to end hostilities in West Asia and create channels for technical talks, including on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear programme.
Earlier on Monday, Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met Munir and criticised the United States for what he described as repeated breaches of its commitments under the MoU. In a statement released on Telegram, Ghalibaf said he and Munir reviewed "numerous instances" of US non-compliance.
"The commitments of the parties in the Memorandum of Understanding are clear, and it was America that, by breaching its commitments, prevented the establishment of stability in the region and created another reason for distrust in this country," Ghalibaf was quoted as saying in the statement.
The Iranian official added that Tehran remains committed to pursuing implementation of the MoU and is unaffected by external pressure. "We are pursuing the implementation of the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, and it is America that must adhere to its commitments based on the Memorandum of Understanding," the statement read.
In response, Munir said he would continue his efforts to restore stability in the region, according to the statement.
The reported phone call between Trump and Munir precedes high-stakes diplomacy in the region. The United States has not responded to the Iranian statements, and it remains unclear what role, if any, the phone call played in shaping Munir's discussions in Tehran.
