Asim Munir in Tehran... Washington and Tehran's Truce on the Brink of Extension

SadaNews - Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, as mediators approached an extension of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran and resumed negotiations to save the fragile truce before it expires next week.

The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi received the Pakistani delegation led by Asim Munir, according to pictures distributed by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Iranian state television reported that the delegation, which includes Interior Minister Mohsen, carries a new message from Washington to Tehran and will discuss the issue of future negotiations with Iranian officials.

An Iranian senior source told Reuters that the visit of the Pakistani delegation aims to "narrow the gap" between Iran and the United States to prevent the resumption of war.

Asim Munir's plane landed at the airport in downtown Tehran, where he was welcomed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after a senior Iranian military official threatened to halt trade in the region if U.S. forces do not lift their naval blockade, amid U.S. military announcements of completely encircling Iranian ports, reflecting the tensions casting shadows over diplomatic efforts.

This came hours after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqaei confirmed that diplomatic communications are ongoing, clarifying that consultations are being conducted through Pakistan and that Tehran is "likely" to host a Pakistani delegation on the same day.

Baqaei denied his country's approval for an extension of the ceasefire with the United States, asserting that "all speculations in this regard cannot be confirmed." He warned that the naval blockade on Iran could be the "precursor to a violation of the ceasefire."

Regional officials told the Associated Press on Wednesday that both sides had reached a "preliminary agreement" to extend the two-week ceasefire, set to expire on April 22, to allow for further diplomatic efforts.

However, a U.S. official told the agency that no agreement has yet been reached to extend the ceasefire in the war with Iran, adding that new talks with Iran are still being discussed and no date has been set for them.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to discuss sensitive negotiations, stated that the United States has not officially consented to an extension of the ceasefire.

Mediators are pushing to reach a compromise on three main points of contention that stalled direct talks over the weekend: Iran's nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and compensation for war damages, according to one of the regional officials involved in the mediation efforts.