Operation 'Economic Isolation' Looms... Pakistan's Army Chief Munir Visits Iran as Key Mediator

[Anchor]

As massive new U.S. economic sanctions against Iran loom, the Pakistani military's chief of staff, who has played a critical role in past negotiations, is visiting Iran. Attention is focused on whether this visit can provide a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Here is a report from Washington correspondent Jeon Byeong-nam.

[Reporter]

Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan who has played a pivotal role in negotiations between the United States and Iran, is visiting Iran.

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the visit public, explaining that it is part of Pakistan's efforts to promote regional peace and security.

This visit coincides with the impending announcement of massive U.S. economic sanctions against Iran.

Interest is gathering on whether this could empower the moderate faction within Iran and serve as an opportunity to forge a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Amidst these developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, a leading moderate within the country, re-emphasized the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States as the best path to ending hostilities.

[Masoud Pezeshkian / Iranian President : Take a look at the clauses of the memorandum of understanding. You will not find a single clause stating that we backed down or surrendered.]

President Pezeshkian also remarked on the 21st, "The world is recognizing Iran's victory," adding, "It is better to end the war now."

Previously, the United States stated it would implement the "strongest sanctions in history" against Iran, announcing it would reveal specific details on the 24th local time.

[Scott Bessent / U.S. Treasury Secretary (local time 20th) : It will be the strongest and most systematic set of economic sanctions in world history. And we will be asking the world whether they stand with us or against us.]

In response, Iran has asserted that it will consider any nation that joins the U.S. economic sanctions against it as an enemy, further escalating tensions.

(Video reporting: Park Eun-ha, Video editing: Kim Ho-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.