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Pakistani field marshal heads to Tehran to try to seal U.S.-Iran deal

Barak Ravid

Two men — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) meets with Pakistani Chief of General Staff Asim Munir in Islamabad on April 25. Photo: Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs handout via Getty

Pakistan's top military commander, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is traveling to Tehran on Friday in an effort to reach a deal under which the U.S. and Iran would agree to end the war and launch negotiations for a broader agreement, a Pakistani security source told Axios.

Why it matters: Munir has been the lead mediator between the U.S. and Iran since the war began. The fact that he is heading to Tehran after several days of lower-level talks could signal a final push by Pakistan to try to get a deal.

Driving the news: The mediators are trying to finalize a letter of intent that includes an agreement to end the war and principles for another 30 days of negotiations on a broader deal that would also address Iran's nuclear program.

Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey have all been involved in the mediation.
It has remained unclear whether Iran would be willing to sign such a document at a time when some in Tehran appear to believe the leverage is on their side.

What they're saying: "There's been some slight progress. I don't want to exaggerate it, but there's been a little bit of movement, and that's good," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

He added that the fundamental demand is that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. It just cannot."
Rubio said a deal would have to address Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and enrichment policy going forward.
He also said Iran must not be allowed to set up "tolls" in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran reiterated its intention to establish such a system on Thursday.

Go deeper: Trump bleeds votes in Congress to keep Iran war going

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Pakistani field marshal heads to Tehran to try to seal U.S.-Iran deal

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