Iran Says US Must Implement Islamabad MoU As Pakistan Army Chief Meets Top Leaders

HYDERABAD, Aug 25 (NNN) -- Iran has demanded the United States to implement the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held talks with the Iranian leadership on a mediation mission on Monday.

The Pakistan defence chief had meetings in Tehran with President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Major General Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's powerful Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

"We do not trust the US; it must change its behaviour and take practical steps to implement the terms of the memorandum of understanding," Rezaei told Asim, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Rezaei said that management of the Strait of Hormuz is in Iran's hands for security reasons. The interim peace agreement signed in June with Pakistan's mediation lays out the terms of peace between the US and Iran.

Ghalibaf, who is head of the Iranian negotiation team, said Iran would not yield to US pressure and accused Washington of not fulfilling its obligations under the Islamabad MoU, according to Iranian media reports.

"Ghalibaf said that the United States must honour its commitments as stipulated in the agreement. For his part, Asim Munir said that he would continue his efforts to help restore stability in the region," news agency IRNA reported.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei earlier said that the Pakistani army chief's visit was taking place within the framework of excellent bilateral relations.

-- NNN-BERNAMA