Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday for an official visit, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, as diplomatic efforts continued to ease tensions across West Asia.
The visit comes as Iranian officials prepare for discussions involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Iran. The proposed meeting is expected to address regional security challenges, including the conflict involving the United States and Iran, Israel’s policies and instability in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Field Marshal Munir had proposed holding a meeting involving the four countries, adding that Tehran had agreed to the initiative.
“Iran agreed to the four-country meeting following Field Marshal Asim Munir’s proposal,” Baghaei said during a press briefing.
Saudi and Turkish Officials Expected in Tehran
According to Iran’s semi-official IRNA news agency, Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Field Marshal Munir and senior officials from Saudi Arabia and Turkiye would travel to Tehran as part of efforts to promote what Iranian officials describe as “endogenous security” in West Asia.
The Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported that Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Field Marshal Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin would attend a joint meeting during their visits to Tehran.
The report also referred to an earlier announcement by Field Marshal Munir concerning a meeting with the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council during his encounter with Lieutenant General Mohsen Rezaei.
The proposed talks could provide an opportunity for the four countries to discuss regional tensions and explore diplomatic approaches to security challenges. Further details about the meeting and its agenda were not provided in the supplied report.
Regional Security and Iran Tensions on the Agenda
Baghaei said the proposed discussions would cover the conflict involving the United States and Iran, Israel’s alleged expansionist policies and the continuing turmoil in Lebanon.
The diplomatic initiative comes amid heightened regional tensions and concerns that further military action could widen the conflict.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have been strengthening coordination on regional security issues. Bringing Iran into discussions involving the three countries could create an additional channel for dialogue at a time of uncertainty across West Asia.
However, the precise format, timing and outcome of the proposed four-country meeting remain to be confirmed.
Netanyahu Reportedly Clashes With Israeli Army Chief
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly clashed with army chief Eyal Zamir over a proposed military operation that could trigger renewed confrontation with Iran ahead of Israel’s October 27 parliamentary vote, according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.
The broadcaster reported that Zamir sought a detailed discussion and signed legal authorisation from political leaders before carrying out their instructions. It did not disclose the nature of the proposed operation.
The report cited concerns within the military that political leaders could exploit tensions with Iran for electoral purposes and warned that the operation could escalate rapidly into a confrontation.
CDF Munir Heads to Tehran as Iran Threatens to Halt Gulf Oil Trade Over US Sanctions
Netanyahu denied that he was involved in a dispute with Zamir, telling Channel 14 that there was no confrontation. Political officials also rejected the allegation that Iran-related tensions were being used to influence voters, Channel 12 reported.
In the same interview, Netanyahu said he had instructed Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency and military to work towards toppling the Iranian government. Channel 12 did not establish whether the undisclosed operation was connected to those instructions.
Netanyahu also claimed that Iran had resumed its nuclear programme and portrayed the election as a matter of national survival. Earlier on Sunday, he posted an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv alongside a warning about Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
Opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan accused him of spreading fear ahead of the vote.
Trump Urges Israelis to Re-Elect Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump also reiterated his support for Netanyahu, urging Israeli voters to re-elect the prime minister and calling on Israel to continue its military campaign against Iran.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump referred to an endorsement letter he had published on October 18, praising Netanyahu as an “outstanding Warrior Prime Minister” and highlighting their cooperation in military operations against Iran.
Trump claimed that Iran had lost its navy and air force, while its military and economy were in disarray. He also made claims about Iran’s inflation, oil exports and the elimination of senior military and civilian leaders.
Urging Israelis to support Netanyahu, Trump wrote: “Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister. We have to finish the job that we started!”
In his earlier letter, Trump described Netanyahu as a strong partner in confronting Iran, citing what he characterised as decades of Iranian threats against Israel and the United States.
The developments underline the growing diplomatic and military stakes surrounding Iran, as regional powers pursue discussions on security while Israel’s leadership faces political pressure ahead of the vote.
