Iran envoy in Pakistan as Islamabad pushes US talks amid fresh strikes

Islamabad,UPDATED: Jul 21, 2026 17:26 IST

An Iranian official began talks in Pakistan on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts continued to revive the collapsed interim deal between Iran and the United States, even as the two countries exchanged attacks for a 10th straight day.

Iran's Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni held meetings with Pakistan's top leadership as Islamabad stepped up efforts to bring both sides back to the negotiating table. The push came amid fresh US airstrikes on Iran, attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and strikes on civilian infrastructure across the region.

Momeni met Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were held behind closed doors. He later met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan's political leadership and Munir, who serves as both chief of army staff and defence forces, had played a key role in brokering last month's interim agreement between Washington and Tehran. Islamabad is now trying to persuade both sides to resolve outstanding issues under the June memorandum of understanding.

Authorities did not immediately share details of the meetings. The visit came as Tehran continued attacks on Gulf Arab allies of the US. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained open to talks with Iran, but added that "it has to be real". It remains unclear whether Tehran will offer anything that President Donald Trump would consider "real".

The interim deal signed last month to end the fighting has since broken down. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled, and both sides have hit civilian infrastructure used by millions of people. The US State Department also issued a fresh warning, saying, "Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world."

Early on Tuesday, Iran attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said the attack took place off Oman. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for that attack as well as two other ship attacks on Monday in the waterway. The UKMTO also reported another previously undisclosed attack on a ship early the previous day.

The US military's Central Command said on Tuesday that it had targeted "Iranian military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and air defense systems". It released more footage of bombings inside Iran and said, "American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait." Iranian state media said explosions were heard in Fars, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces.

The 10 consecutive nights of US airstrikes have not led Tehran to loosen its hold over the strait, through which about a fifth of all crude oil and natural gas traded once passed in peacetime. Traffic through the waterway has slowed sharply during the latest fighting. Lloyd's List Intelligence said only three ships passed through the strait on Sunday. The route around Oman had been the one the US military had encouraged ships to use to avoid Iranian control.

Iran also struck US-allied countries across the Middle East. Jordan's military said on Tuesday that Iran targeted it with five drones and three missiles, all of which were shot down. Bahrain sounded missile alert sirens on Tuesday afternoon as another Iranian barrage targeted the island kingdom, home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. In Kuwait, the Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry said Tehran had struck desalination and power plants for a fourth straight day on Monday night, causing fires and damage. Authorities said about 90 per cent of Kuwait's drinking water comes from desalination. US strikes have also hit electrical equipment in Iran, while Iranian officials said American forces targeted water facilities.

The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks, with benchmark Brent crude trading near USD 90 a barrel on Tuesday and regular petrol in the US rising to an average of USD 4 a gallon. Trump on Monday wrote on social media: "Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!" As diplomacy continued in Pakistan, the fighting at sea and across the region underlined how far the interim deal had unravelled.

With PTI Inputs

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