Pakistan’s army chief also discussed efforts to revive stalled US-Iran negotiations with Tehran’s top diplomat.
WEB DESK: Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir has urged Iran to use its influence to persuade Yemen’s Houthi group to stop attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy and economic infrastructure, Pakistani government officials told Anadolu Agency.
Munir spoke by phone with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during the latter’s visit to China on Wednesday, according to officials familiar with the discussion.
Munir discusses Houthi attacks with Iranian diplomat
According to the officials, Munir and Araghchi discussed the wider regional situation, with particular focus on recent Houthi attacks targeting Saudi energy facilities.
Pakistan has been seeking a negotiated settlement to the wider Middle East conflict and has urged Tehran to use whatever influence it has with the Houthis to help halt attacks on Saudi oil and economic infrastructure.
Officials described Araghchi’s response to Munir’s request as “hopeful” but did not disclose further details of the conversation.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has previously said Tehran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs and described the Houthis as independent actors pursuing their own interests.
Makkah drone incident adds to regional tensions
The conversation came a day after a drone was intercepted near Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
The incident drew condemnation and concern from several countries. The Houthis denied launching the drone.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also strengthened defence cooperation. The two countries signed a bilateral defence agreement last year, followed by a trilateral Makkah defence agreement involving Türkiye in August.
Pakistan reiterates commitment to defence agreements
Separately, Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to implementing its bilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and the trilateral Makkah agreement.
Foreign Office spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan said operational details would remain confidential, including decisions about when, where and how force might be used.
He also stressed Pakistan’s preference for resolving regional tensions through dialogue and diplomacy rather than coercive measures.
Khan described the situation around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as “exceptionally serious” and urged the Houthis to stop their activities.
Efforts to revive US-Iran talks
Munir and Araghchi also discussed ways to revive stalled direct negotiations between Iran and the United States.
According to officials cited by Anadolu, Araghchi said Iran was prepared to return to negotiations if the United States halted hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz and adhered to the Islamabad memorandum.
China is also supporting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to revive the US-Iran dialogue and prevent the conflict from spreading further, the officials said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi separately encouraged Iran and the United States to exercise restraint, return to the Islamabad memorandum and engage in substantive consultations during his meeting with Araghchi in Beijing.
Pakistan continues mediation efforts
Pakistan has maintained contacts with both Washington and Tehran as it seeks to facilitate dialogue over the conflict.
The United States and Iran signed an Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding on June 17 and began negotiations toward a final agreement, but talks later stalled over disagreements including security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest diplomatic contacts come as regional tensions continue to affect energy infrastructure, shipping routes and broader Middle Eastern security.
