Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, on June 6. Naqvi had arrived in Tehran on Saturday. For Pakistan, this is an important new step in its goal of mediating a deal between the US and Iran.
These talks have gone on for two months. Pakistan has continued to stay the course in terms of trying to be optimistic that a deal is within reach.
According to Arab News’ local Pakistan coverage, “Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said late Saturday he has arrived in Tehran to deliver messages from Pakistan’s military chief and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supreme leader of Iran.” The report said that Pakistan is intensifying its efforts at US-Iran mediation.
The Pakistan initiative is taking place as the country is also in talks with Lebanon’s army chief. As such, Pakistan is now playing a dual role, working on peace with Iran and also inserting itself increasingly into the Middle East.
Pakistan historically is oriented toward South Asia, meaning primarily India and also affairs in Central Asia, such as Afghanistan. It has warm ties with China and the US. Pakistan is a nuclear power.
However, the Iran talks mean that Pakistan is increasingly playing a role in the Middle East. Islamabad, for instance, has sought out closer security ties with Saudi Arabia.
It was not clear why Pakistan sent Naqvi for the recent round of meetings. It might be due to the fact that Pakistan’s army chief is meeting his Lebanese counterpart. “Prior to his arrival, Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Saturday that Naqvi was carrying an important message from Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.”
Iran and the US have been clashing in the Gulf
Naqvi made comments about this in his statement to Iranian media. He did not appear to elaborate beyond saying he was discussing the current situation. The reports in Pakistan said that the meetings took place amid new tensions in the Middle East.
For instance, Iran and the US have been clashing in the Gulf. This has included Iranian missile attacks on Kuwait. The US appears prepared to try to keep these clashes to a minimum or at least downplay them for now. This gives Pakistan the opportunity to continue to position itself as a key player.
For Washington, what is important is seeing if Pakistan can actually move the ball. US President Donald Trump will want to see practical progress towards a deal. Otherwise, he has indicated he is willing to wait.
Arab News noted that the Pakistani official made his statement in Iran “hours after the US military said it shot down Iranian ballistic missiles and drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab allies on Friday, while striking some Islamic Republic’s coastal surveillance radar sites in response.”
Blockades of the Strait of Hormuz
It remains to be seen if Pakistan can get any movement toward a deal. Pakistan continues to insist that it receive frozen assets. It’s also not clear how the blockades of the Strait of Hormuz will be lifted.
Iran is showing it is willing to continue to carry out attacks in the Gulf. These attacks are not exactly new regarding Iran’s behavior. It has attacked neighbors in the past.
However, the attacks are not only larger, but Iran increasingly feels there will be no real repercussions. It is trying to draw new lines in the Gulf and create a new kind of equation. Pakistan’s mediation takes place as Iran’s confidence grows.