Pakistan 'cautiously optimistic' about Iran-US mediation efforts Pakistan's military is "cautiously optimistic" about its efforts to mediate between Iran and the US, its spokesman told Reuters on Friday, in the first interview since a senior delegation traveled to Tehran earlier this week. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's lead mediator in efforts to end the US-Israel war in Iran, visited Tehran twice this month. His last trip took place on Monday, accompanied by Saudi and Turkish officials. "Why would the field marshal go twice if it wasn't for a bit of positivity? So yes, of course," spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said when asked if the visits indicated positive progress. "The word we would use is always cautiously optimistic," added Chaudhry, executive director of Inter-Services Public Relations. However, he warned that there are still "powerful spoilers and detractors", who believe that the war serves their interests, without identifying them. Speaking in Rawalpindi, the garrison city that houses the headquarters of Pakistan's armed forces, Chaudhry declined to reveal details of the discussions or confirm whether Washington had approved the visit. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin accompanied Munir during Monday's visit to Tehran.

Pakistan 'cautiously optimistic' about Iran-US mediation efforts Pakistan's military is "cautiously optimistic" about its efforts to mediate between Iran and the US, its spokesman told Reuters on Friday, in the first interview since a senior delegation traveled to Tehran earlier this week. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's lead mediator in efforts to end the US-Israel war in Iran, visited Tehran twice this month. His last trip took place on Monday, accompanied by Saudi and Turkish officials. "Why would the field marshal go twice if it wasn't for a bit of positivity? So yes, of course," spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said when asked if the visits indicated positive progress. "The word we would use is always cautiously optimistic," added Chaudhry, executive director of Inter-Services Public Relations. However, he warned that there are still "powerful spoilers and detractors", who believe that the war serves their interests, without identifying them. Speaking in Rawalpindi, the garrison city that houses the headquarters of Pakistan's armed forces, Chaudhry declined to reveal details of the discussions or confirm whether Washington had approved the visit. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin accompanied Munir during Monday's visit to Tehran.