Trump spoke to Pakistan army chief ahead of Tehran trip, sought resumption of talks — sources

By Reuters 24 August 2026, 12:19 pm

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Newly elevated Field Marshal General Asim Munir prays after laying a wreath on the Martyrs monument during a special guard of honor ceremony at General Headquarters, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, May 21, 2025. (Inter Services Public Relations via AP, File)

US President Donald Trump spoke with Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir last week ahead of Munir’s trip to Tehran today, three Pakistani sources reveal, with one saying the main US request was to bring Iran back to negotiations.

The call, which has not been previously reported, was initiated by Trump, according to two Pakistani sources.

The White House Office of the Press Secretary does not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is unclear what Munir and Trump discussed in detail.

Munir is currently in Tehran accompanied by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s military confirms, saying the visit is “part of Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability.”

Munir is expected to meet with people close to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday, one Pakistani source says.

Another Pakistani government source says that while US-Iran tensions are a focus of the visit, Munir is also expected to discuss recent attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi fighters on Pakistan’s ally Saudi Arabia as well as the recently signed mutual defense agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

“There is a trust deficit on both sides,” a third Pakistani source says about the US and Iran, adding that Munir is aiming to mitigate the lack of mutual trust.