Pakistan minister visits Iran amid rising Middle East tensions
Islamabad: Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is visiting Iran for discussions on regional security, stability and developments in the Middle East, as Islamabad seeks to support efforts towards resolving the ongoing conflict.
Naqvi has met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, according to Iranian state media.
Pakistan seeks role in regional diplomacy
Pakistan's Foreign Office said Naqvi's discussions cover bilateral relations, security, regional stability and engagement among countries in the region.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the visit was also focused on regional developments and constructive engagement between the parties involved in the conflict.
The Iranian government said Naqvi conveyed a message from Pakistan's prime minister and army chief to President Pezeshkian, but did not disclose its contents.
Focus on Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major issue in the regional conflict. Iran has insisted on retaining control over the strategic waterway and has sought to impose fees on vessels using it.
The United States has separately imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, with tensions in the waterway affecting commercial shipping.
The latest developments follow an announcement by Iran last week that it had agreed on a route with Oman for ships travelling through the strait and was working on arrangements to jointly manage the waterway.
US-Iran tensions
The situation around the Strait of Hormuz has also contributed to the breakdown of previous diplomatic efforts.
On Tuesday, the US military said it had fired on a Panama-flagged cargo ship that attempted to breach the American blockade of Iranian ports.
Pakistan's latest diplomatic engagement comes as regional mediators continue efforts to bring the parties back towards negotiations and establish a path towards a broader settlement.
Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and has sought to maintain relations with Tehran while also engaging with the United States and other regional actors.
Naqvi's visit therefore gives Islamabad an opportunity to discuss both bilateral security concerns and the wider regional conflict, particularly developments around the Strait of Hormuz.
The precise content of the message delivered to the Iranian president has not been disclosed publicly.