WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump spoke this week with Pakistani army chief Gen. Asim Munir and Iranian negotiators during mediation efforts in Iran, according to a media report.Axios, citing unnamed US officials, said the contacts took place during Munir’s three-day visit to Tehran, which began Wednesday.The report said Munir held mediation talks between the United States and Iran in Tehran, and that Trump spoke by phone at least once with Munir and Iranian officials.During the trip, Munir met Iranian civil and military leaders, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam ul Anbiya headquarters.The report came as Trump chaired a White House Situation Room meeting on Saturday after the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz.A two-week ceasefire is due to expire on April 22, while no final date has been announced for a new round of US-Iran talks.During Munir’s visit, Iran declared the waterway open before closing it again on Saturday after Trump said the US blockade of Iranian ports would continue.Pakistani, US and Iranian sources believe a second round of talks could take place in Islamabad as early as next week.No official announcement has been made by any side on the timing of the next meeting.Pakistan hosted high-level talks between the United States and Iran on April 11 and 12, the first such engagement since 1979, but the discussions ended without a final agreement.The second round is expected to include technical teams.Pakistani government sources earlier said the technical teams could meet in Islamabad, most likely on Monday, to finalize an agreement.
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