Trump Secretly Called Pakistan Army Chief Before Iran Trip With One Key Request, Sources Say

Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump last week before he left for Tehran, and the U.S. President had requested Pakistan to exercise its influence to persuade Iran to return to the negotiating table, a Pakistani source told Reuters.

The call was the latest of a string of such visits that have not been previously reported as Washington was readying new economic sanctions against Iran and nations that are still buying and selling with Tehran.

The White House Office of the Press Secretary didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, and the sources indicated that the call had been called by Trump.

On Monday, Munir landed in Tehran with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Pakistan’s military said the visit was “part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability.”

Trump Seeks Pakistan’s Influence With Iran

The call places Munir at the center of Pakistan’s latest diplomatic effort to reopen a channel between Washington and Tehran.

Three Pakistani sources quoted by Reuters said the call was a request for Pakistan to leverage its influence on Iran to help it return to negotiations.

Trump last week threatened economies of nations that extend “any type of lifeline to Iran” may be impacted as the administration tries to isolate Tehran. Iran has also warned to close oil exports from the Gulf, putting pressure on energy and shipping routes in the region.

The timing of Munir’s visit also coincides with new U.S. sanctions that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was expected to outline Monday. The measures are intended to increase economic pressure on Iran and its trading partners.

Pakistan Revives Efforts To Mediate Iran

During the ongoing conflict, Pakistan has made efforts to keep both Washington and Tehran abreast.

On 17th June, the two sides signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pakistan as a mediator. The document pledged the U.S. and Iran to reach a final deal in 60 days or less, subject to mutual agreement.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said after the agreement that Islamabad would continue facilitating the process. On June 21, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Munir attended high-level talks in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, involving U.S., Iranian, Pakistani and Qatari delegations.

The MoU subsequently faltered as fighting resumed between the United States and Iran. The agreement had quickly broken down amid renewed hostilities.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has continued to describe Islamabad as a facilitator. In an Aug. 12 briefing, the ministry said Pakistan was making efforts to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table and that Islamabad remained engaged through direct and indirect channels.

Munir Heads To Tehran For Peace Talks

Munir was expected to meet people close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, according to a Pakistani source cited by Reuters.

A separate Pakistani government source said U.S.-Iran tensions would be a central issue during the visit. The discussions were also expected to cover recent attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi fighters on Pakistan’s ally Saudi Arabia and the mutual defense agreement recently signed by Pakistan, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.

The visit reflects Pakistan’s attempt to maintain its role as a mediator while preserving its relationship with Iran. Islamabad has continued trading with Tehran during the conflict, placing Pakistan between U.S. pressure on Iran and its own regional diplomatic interests.

“There is a trust deficit on both sides,” a third Pakistani source said about the U.S. and Iran, adding that Munir’s aim was to mitigate the lack of mutual trust on Monday.

Munir Bridges Washington And Tehran Diplomatically

Munir has been involved in Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate U.S.-Iran contacts since the conflict began.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in April that Islamabad had maintained communication with both Washington and Tehran and that Munir was involved alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Munir also participated in the June talks that followed the Islamabad MoU. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said he and Sharif attended the first high-level implementation meeting in Switzerland, where U.S., Iranian, Pakistani and Qatari representatives discussed the agreement.

Trump has previously discussed Iran with Munir publicly. After meeting the Pakistani military chief at the White House in June 2025, Trump said, “They know Iran very well, better than most, and they’re not happy about anything. They see what’s going on, and he agreed with me.”

Munir’s contacts with both Washington and Tehran have also drawn criticism in the United States. Foundation for Defense of Democracies senior fellow Bill Roggio told Fox News Digital, “Trump should not trust the Pakistanis. Pakistan was a perfidious ‘ally’ in Afghanistan, backing the Taliban while pretending to be our friends. Munir’s ties to the IRGC should be a massive red flag for the Trump admin.”

The comments represent an individual analyst’s assessment and do not establish that Munir’s relationship with Iran has affected his current diplomatic role.

Next Steps Depend On Renewed Iran Talks

Munir’s Tehran visit comes at a critical point for the U.S.-Iran diplomatic process. Washington is increasing economic pressure on Tehran while Pakistan is seeking to restore negotiations that followed the June Islamabad MoU.

Whether Pakistan can help reopen talks will depend in part on whether Washington and Tehran are prepared to address the issues that caused the earlier agreement to break down. For now, the details of Trump’s call with Munir remain undisclosed beyond the reported request that Pakistan use its influence to bring Iran back to negotiations.