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ISLAMABAD, September 17, 2026: Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir has urged Iran to use its influence with Yemen’s Houthi group to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure, Pakistani government officials told Anadolu.
Munir raised the issue during a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to the officials.
The call took place while Araghchi was visiting China on Wednesday. Iranian state media also confirmed the conversation.
Pakistani officials said Munir discussed the wider regional situation with a focus on Houthi attacks and efforts to revive stalled direct talks between the United States and Iran.
The conversation comes amid renewed fighting involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has reported attacks targeting its territory and energy infrastructure. Saudi authorities also said air defences intercepted a drone near Makkah. The Houthis denied responsibility for that incident.
Pakistan has called for dialogue and diplomacy to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sajjad Haider Khan said Islamabad wanted peace and stability through diplomatic efforts. He also called on the Houthis to stop their activities amid growing regional tensions.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has previously said Tehran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs. He described the Houthis as independent actors pursuing their own interests.
The Pakistani and Iranian officials also discussed efforts to restart direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
According to Pakistani officials, Araghchi said Iran was prepared to return to negotiations if the United States halted hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz and returned to commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
The memorandum was signed by the United States and Iran in June after Pakistan played a role in facilitating negotiations. Pakistan’s National Assembly described the agreement as a diplomatic breakthrough at the time.
Araghchi has also publicly linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the US returning to its commitments under the Islamabad MoU.
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Araghchi held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing during his visit.
According to the Pakistani officials, China is also supporting efforts to revive US-Iran negotiations and prevent the conflict from spreading.
Chinese officials have urged Iran and the United States to exercise restraint and return to negotiations.
The discussions also focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global energy shipments.
Pakistan has close security ties with Saudi Arabia while maintaining diplomatic relations with Iran.
The two sides signed a bilateral defence pact last year. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye later signed a trilateral defence agreement in Makkah.
The latest escalation has therefore created an additional diplomatic challenge for Islamabad as it seeks to maintain its relationships with both Riyadh and Tehran.
Reuters previously reported that Pakistan had delivered messages to Iran urging restraint from the Houthis as tensions between Saudi Arabia and the group increased.
The widening conflict has also affected regional energy and shipping routes.
Recent attacks and disruptions have increased concerns about oil supplies and maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Pakistan, which relies heavily on imported energy, is also exposed to higher international oil prices and shipping costs.
The latest diplomatic contacts come as international efforts continue to prevent the conflict from expanding into a wider regional confrontation.
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