Pakistan Army Chief Facilitates Secret Oil Deal to Shield Saudi Arabia from Iran Attacks

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has brokered a secret deal to facilitate the off-the-books export of Iranian oil through Pakistan in exchange for Iran halting its attacks on Saudi Arabia. The agreement, set up by Munir and IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi, was struck in late March when the US-Israeli war on Iran was in full swing.

The deal has generated massive dividends for both men, according to reports. In exchange for halting its attacks on Saudi Arabia, Iran is exporting oil through Pakistan, which has strengthened Pakistan's relationship with Saudi Arabia and made the kingdom more reliant on Pakistan.

Pakistan's emergence as a principal mediator in the West Asia crisis has been significant. The country brokered the US-Iran ceasefire in March and was the driving force behind the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that Trump and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian signed last month.