Trump, Pakistan army chief discuss Iran conflict as diplomatic efforts intensify
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call with Pakistan’s Army Chief Gen. Asif Munir to discuss the ongoing Iran conflict, the White House confirmed, as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region continue to take shape.
A White House official confirmed the conversation but declined to provide further details, citing the sensitivity of the discussions and ongoing efforts to bring an end to hostilities between the United States and Iran.
“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the news media,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
People familiar with the matter said Munir spoke with Trump over the weekend, while Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential venue for talks involving senior U.S. and Iranian officials.
Separately, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing solidarity with Iran amid the escalating crisis.
“As a neighboring brotherly country, I expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the brave Iranian people, conveyed deep condolences on the loss of precious lives, and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured and displaced,” Sharif said in a post on X, adding that he also conveyed Eid-ul-Fitr and Nowruz greetings.
Sharif said both sides discussed “the grave situation in the Gulf region” and agreed on “the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.”
“I also underscored the importance of unity in the ranks of the Ummah and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to playing a constructive role in advancing peace in the region,” he said.
The diplomatic outreach comes as Trump signaled a temporary pause in military escalation, saying he would delay a potential strike on Iran’s power infrastructure following what he described as “very good and productive” conversations with Tehran.
It remains unclear whether Pakistan’s mediation efforts played a direct role in that decision. Iran has denied engaging in direct negotiations with Washington, though its foreign ministry acknowledged receiving messages through intermediaries.
“Over the past few days, messages were received via certain friendly states conveying the U.S. request for negotiations to end the war,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told IRNA.
Analysts say the diplomatic push is still in its early stages, with officials describing the current exchanges as preliminary messaging rather than a structured negotiation process. (Source: IANS)
