Peace talks in Pakistan have stalled as ships come under fire in the Strait of Hormuz and US President Donald Trump does not have an off-ramp – as it emerges Pakistan’s intermediary may not be as neutral as thought
US intelligence has raised alarms over Pakistan’s involvement in peace talks as it emerged the country’s chief intermediary has closer links to Iran than previously thought.
Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir – lauded by US President Donald Trump – has been associated with two key Iranian military leaders assassinated by the US. They are Iran’s Major General Qasem Solemeini, former head of the shadowy Quds Force, killed in Baghdad in 2020 and ex-military chief Hossein Salami, killed last year.
Munir is thought to have developed “close personal ties” to both targeted men, the Mirror has learned, and this may represent a “potential threat” to the United States. But the delay in peace talks is thought by Iran to be an excuse to by time so the US can send even more military resources to the region.”
It happened amid heightened tension in the Gulf as three ships came under Tehran-backed attack and two had been seized and are being escorted back to Iran.
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One source told the Daily Mirror: “Pakistan has been keen to act as an intermediary in these talks but negotiators must ensure all parties are as objective as can be possible. Having ties to anyone in the IRGC and its Quds force must surely imply some level of prejudice which means the pace talks may be heavily weighted towards the aims of Iran.
“It is possible this information has had a further negative effect on the peace talks which have been blighted with complications, not least because no trust remains between the two sides. Meanwhile Israel will bide its time and if or when hostilities resume seize the moment and continue to degrade Iran’s military capability.
“The Iranian believe the US is using the time re-arm and bolster its forces with even more firepower.” Peace talks in Pakistan are believed to have been put on hold and US VIce President JD Vance is believed to have temporarily shelved plans to travel to Islamabad.
It emerged after Trump extended a deadline for current ceasefire to end beyond its final day, which was today, until Iran comes up with a proposal for peace. Trump cited both Munir and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as having requested the extension, asking the US to ‘hold our attack on the country of Iran.”
Tension is mounting in the Gulf region as at least three ships were fired upon by Iran’s IRGC and the US-imposed blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains. In the first attack The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) reported an IRGC “gun boat” shot at a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
That assault took place north east of Oman and caused large damage to the bridge of the Greek-owned vessel, which is named the Epaminondas. A Panama-flagged ship the Euphoria, owned by a UAE company, was attacked north west of Iran, although no damage was reported.
And the MSC Francesca, also Panama flagged, was targeted off the Iranian coast, in an assault that caused damage to the hull. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that both the MSC Francesca and Epaminondas were boarded and directed towards Iran. It is also feared the Houthis in Yemen could be encouraged by Iran to join the fight.
It added that they were both operating “without the necessary permits and tampering with navigation systems.” The war on Iran has raged for some seven weeks and sparked another conflict in lebanon, which is also under a fragile ceasefire. The current ceasefire began on April 16, is to run for ten days, and can be extended by “mutual consent.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to it at Trump’s request, though the timing was plainly not to his liking. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has spent recent weeks eliminating Hezbollah commanders and degrading its military infrastructure. Most Israelis would prefer to finish the job which would reduce – if not eliminate – further attacks by Hezbollah for the foreseeable future.
