Iran’s interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House in Islamabad on Tuesday. The purpose of the meeting, as per the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) X post, focused on dialogue amid escalating regional tensions.
Momeni arrived in Pakistan on Monday night and was received by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, indicating the bilateral nature of the discussions.
During his visit, Momeni is scheduled to meet Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Reports suggest these conversations aim to address ongoing security concerns.
The visit coincides with efforts to preserve the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US and Iran, which aimed to de-escalate conflict following US-Israeli strikes in late February. However, recent US strikes in Iran and retaliatory actions by Tehran have complicated these efforts.
Despite escalating hostilities, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that diplomatic channels via mediators remain active. Meanwhile, Iran has reimposed its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the US to restrict access to its ports.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalated the conflict by imposing a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, framing it as retaliation for Riyadh’s support of Yemen’s government. Saudi Arabia condemned the blockade, reaffirming its backing of the Aden-based administration.