PAKISTANI officials said Tuesday there had been a “productive” meeting with Iran aimed at preventing another escalation of the illegal and unprovoked war launched by the United States and Israel in February.

This came hours before Washington set out plans for sweeping sanctions against Tehran.

Monday’s talks took place during a diplomatic visit to Tehran by Pakistan army head Field Marshall Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

In a statement published on Tuesday, the Pakistani military described the trip as “part of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to end the stalemate in the ongoing US-Iran conflict and explore ways for achieving enduring peace and [a] permanent end to instability in the region.”

Field Marshall Munir held meetings with several Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei, the military said.

The statement added: “Comprehensive discussions focused on measures to prevent further escalation, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and expedited termination of the conflict.”

Following the meetings, Mr Naqvi posted on social media that both sides had reviewed the steps needed to restore the memorandum of understanding, an interim framework aimed at ending the war, that was mediated by Pakistan. 

He added that he and Field Marshal Munir had had a “very positive and productive meeting with the president of Iran.”

“Significant progress was made and the meeting concluded on a highly positive note.”

Meanwhile, Iran insisted yesterday that it was confident of being able to counter the widened US sanctions after Washington announced what it described as an “economic D-Day” against the country to try to isolate it from the global economy.

Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said Tehran was “fully prepared” for the sanctions, which he said would lead to “another defeat” for the US.

The remarks followed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing a raft of new measures to heap economic pressure on Iran.

They include measures against Iranian military officials and entities supplying Iran’s military and missile programmes.

Mr Bessent described the new measures as “the single greatest financial offensive ever” against Iran, which would “tighten the noose and block every potential source of revenue.”

Iran’s largest trading partners include China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, which announced last week it was halting all trade and financial transactions with Tehran.

In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said sanctions and pressure tactics did not help and Beijing would do what was necessary to protect China’s interests.