Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir Brokered Secret Deal Between Tehran and Riyadh

Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir reportedly used his connections with Iran to broker a secret deal between Tehran and Riyadh, halting Iranian missile strikes against Saudi Arabia.

The arrangement was established in late March, during the initial phase of the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. According to unnamed sources, including a Middle East diplomat and a regional intelligence official, Asim Munir utilized a joint oil transport operation with Ahmad Vahidi, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as leverage throughout the talks.

The commercial venture has been moving Iranian oil into Pakistan since late last year, operating despite international sanctions and restrictions on Iranian energy exports. The report claimed that Asim Munir cautioned Vahidi that persistent strikes on Saudi territory could imperil the future of the joint oil operation.

A regional intelligence official stated that Islamabad aimed to bolster its strategic alliance with Riyadh by acting as a pivotal broker during the regional crisis, thereby increasing Saudi reliance on Pakistan. However, a Middle East diplomat criticized the reported pact, arguing that it effectively rewarded Iran's military hostility towards adjacent nations.