Iran Accepts Munir Proposal for Four-Nation Tehran Meeting

Tehran (GNP): Iran has agreed to host a four-country meeting with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey after a proposal from Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed the development at a press briefing on Monday.

Baghaei said the idea began with Munir, and that Iran accepted it after his proposal. He also set out what the talks will cover, listing the US war on Iran, Israel’s “expansionist policies” and the turmoil in Lebanon.

The announcement fits with details given earlier on Monday by Ali Bagheri, Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). Bagheri said senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey will travel to Tehran as part of efforts to put “endogenous security” in West Asia into practice.

He named the officials as Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Munir and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin. All three, he said, will attend a joint meeting during the trip.

Munir had already pointed to this track. During his encounter with Lieutenant General Mohsen Rezaei, he announced that he would meet the SNSC Secretary. No date for the joint meeting has been given so far.

The Iranian account of the agenda matters because of the pressure building around Iran. Israeli media reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clashed with Army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over a proposed operation that could trigger fighting with Iran, ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. The nature of the operation was not disclosed.

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Netanyahu denied any dispute with Zamir. In the same interview, he said he had instructed the Mossad and the military to work towards toppling Iran’s government.

Washington added its voice on Sunday. US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for Netanyahu, urged Israelis to re-elect him and called on Israel to press ahead with its military campaign against Iran until it is completed.

Set against those statements, the Tehran meeting is an effort of a different kind. Three regional powers will sit down with Iran to discuss security together, while leaders in Israel and the United States speak of continued military action.

Baghaei said, “Iran agreed to the four-country meeting following Field Marshal Asim Munir’s proposal.”