Iran tells Pakistan US must act first to de-escalate conflict

Iran told Pakistan on Monday that the US must take the first steps toward de-escalation by fulfilling its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as Pakistan seeks to revive the diplomatic process ending the US-Iran conflict. During Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir's Tehran meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, and security chief Gen Mohsen Rezaei, Iranian leaders stressed commitment to the MoU while saying Washington's approach hinders regional stability and erodes trust. Discussions covered preventing escalation, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and ending the conflict swiftly. The visit follows the expiry of a 60-day armistice and Munir's phone call with US President Donald Trump last week. Washington announced fresh sanctions on Iran, which Tehran warns will deepen confrontation. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi is due in Tehran Tuesday for separate Hormuz navigation talks.