Why Did Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir Cancel His Iran Trip?

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir is acting as a key go-between in tense contacts between the US and Iran, but reports say Munir will visit Tehran only if both sides first settle a final framework formula. The condition-based trip highlights how fragile the talks remain, even as signals of possible movement on ending the war with Iran continue to emerge.

Speculation about Munir’s travel grew after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday that there were encouraging indications of progress. Rubio said, "I believe the Pakistanis will be travelling to Tehran today, so hopefully that'll advance this further. There are some good signs, but I don't want to be overly optimistic. Let's see what happens over the next few days."

US-Iran talks and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir

Later the same day, Saudi Arabia-based Al-Hadath TV, quoting senior diplomatic sources, reported that Asim Munir had cancelled the planned Tehran visit. According to these accounts, Munir is still supervising the exchange of written messages between Washington and the Islamic Republic, but will not travel until both capitals sign off on a complete outline for future negotiations.

Iranian commentator Ali Gholhaki, described as a hardline journalist, argued that the delay carried wider meaning for US-Iran talks involving Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir. Gholhaki wrote, "The postponement of the trip of Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir to Tehran - after a 24-hour wait - is an important sign. The US ​​insists that the nuclear debate, under the current circumstances, be negotiated, and its file closed."

Enriched uranium dispute and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir

Gholhaki added that Tehran is linking any fresh nuclear discussions to steps on the battlefield and at sea. The journalist said Iran wants a 30-day confidence-building period, which would include ending the war and lifting the naval blockade. Gholhaki also claimed that "On the issue of the Strait, the Americans are not willing to accept Iran's collection of tolls."

Even without Munir in Tehran, Pakistan remains involved. Reports say Asim Munir sent Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Tehran on Wednesday, marking Naqvi’s second visit in one week. Naqvi is said to have carried another message from the United States to Iranian officials, underlining Pakistan’s continuing role as a channel between the two rivals.

At the core of the dispute lies Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium, which the US views as a direct nuclear threat. US President Donald Trump warned again that Washington would not allow Iran to retain this material, following reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has ordered that the nuclear fuel should not be sent abroad.

Trump argued that a nuclear-armed Iran would trigger wider conflict. Trump said, "A nuclear Iran would lead to 'nuclear war in the Middle East, and that war will come here, that war will go to Europe — we can't let that happen, and it won't happen." Trump added, "I can think of nothing that's more important than the fact that we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon." Trump also stated, "We're gonna get it one way or the other, they're not gonna have a nuclear weapon."

US intelligence assessments cited in reports suggest roughly 440 kilograms, or about 970 pounds, of highly enriched uranium were buried after American strikes on critical Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day Israel-Iran war last June. That history, combined with Khamenei’s reported directive and stalled travel by Asim Munir, underscores how disputes over enriched uranium still shape every step of the current talks.