Naqvi to visit Tehran today for bilateral discussions: Iranian foreign ministry

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Saturday confirmed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi would visit Tehran on Sunday, stressing that the trip was “entirely” within the framework of bilateral discussions. Iranian outlet IRIB reported that speaking to state television’s Khabar network, Baghaei said Iran’s relations with Pakistan had particularly improved in recent months and that Tehran’s neighbourhood policy was based on using cultural, historical and other shared links to strengthen ties. Asked about Naqvi’s visit and speculation that he could carry a US message or proposal, Baghaei said Iran had “very good and growing relations” with its neighbour. Read: Pakistan plans fresh diplomatic push “The visit of Pakistan’s interior minister is entirely within the framework of bilateral discussions,” he said, adding that one of Pakistan’s economic ministers might also accompany him. According to Baghaei, the main purpose of the visit was to follow up on previous understandings between the two countries, particularly decisions reached at the leadership level. He said Pakistan, having played a mediating role, could naturally use such opportunities to raise regional issues. “But so far, there has been no discussion of him carrying any specific message or proposal from the United States,” he said. Asked about a message posted by the Foreign Office regarding a telephone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Baghaei said the two foreign ministers remained in close contact and consultation on various regional and bilateral issues. He said the two sides had agreed to meet and hold talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. “Alongside active participation in the General Assembly meetings, extensive plans have been made for bilateral consultations with officials from various countries,” he said. Read More: Dar underscores need for uninterrupted energy supplies, safe passage of ships in call with Iranian FM He added that a meeting with Dar was among the planned engagements on the sidelines of the visit, with a wide range of bilateral relations and international developments expected to be discussed. Earlier, it was reported that Islamabad was preparing to send another high-level delegation to Tehran in a fresh diplomatic push aimed at breaking the stalemate between Iran and the United States and containing rapidly escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis. The visit comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Pakistan, which has been trying to maintain its role as a bridge between Iran and the United States while simultaneously managing its growing security commitments to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts have acquired another dimension as fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthis has intensified. Also Read: CDF Munir urges Iran to persuade Houthis not to target Saudi energy facilities: officials Saudi Arabia and the Houthis exchanged fresh attacks this week, with Riyadh carrying out airstrikes against Houthi positions while the group launched drone and missile attacks against Saudi territory. The escalation has raised concerns about the security of Saudi energy infrastructure and shipping routes around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb. The latest diplomatic initiative also follows a telephone conversation between Araghchi and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir. Iranian media reported that the two discussed the latest regional developments while Araghchi was in Beijing. According to the Financial Times, CDF Munir subsequently conveyed Pakistan’s concerns to Iranian officials over the Houthi attacks and urged Tehran to restrain the group. The report said Islamabad had warned that the situation could have implications for Pakistan’s defence commitments to Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s position has become more consequential following the signing of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Türkiye defence agreement in August, under which an attack on one of the signatories is to be treated as an attack on all. Yemen has been gripped by war since the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led Arab coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The group has been engaged in renewed fighting with government forces since July, when it declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh, and has recently claimed advances along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The Houthis have also targeted Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, further raising concerns over oil prices in the international market.