CDF Asim Munir’s Tehran visit focuses on regional security

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Monday for an official visit, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The visit comes amid diplomatic efforts to address regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said a proposed meeting involving Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye would discuss the US war on Iran, Israel’s policies in the region and the ongoing turmoil in Lebanon. He said Tehran had agreed to the four-country meeting following a proposal from Field Marshal Munir.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that Munir would attend a joint meeting in Tehran with Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. The discussions are expected to focus on regional cooperation and the concept of “endogenous security” in West Asia, according to remarks attributed to Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

The visit comes as tensions surrounding Iran remain a major concern for regional governments. The proposed talks could provide an opportunity for the four countries to discuss shared security challenges and the wider consequences of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly clashed with military chief Eyal Zamir over a proposed operation that could lead to renewed confrontation with Iran, Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported on Sunday.

According to the report, Zamir sought a detailed discussion and written legal authorisation from political leaders before proceeding with their instructions. The broadcaster did not disclose details of the proposed operation.

The report also cited concerns among military officials that the operation could escalate tensions with Iran ahead of Israel’s October 27 parliamentary election. A security official reportedly warned that the situation could develop into a direct confrontation and increase the risk of miscalculation.

Netanyahu denied any dispute with Zamir during an interview with Channel 14, saying there was no confrontation. Political officials also rejected allegations that the Iran issue was being used for electoral purposes, Channel 12 reported.

During the interview, Netanyahu said he had directed the Mossad intelligence agency and the military to work towards toppling Iran’s government. However, Channel 12 did not establish whether the reported operation was linked to those instructions.

Netanyahu also claimed that Iran had resumed its nuclear programme and presented the election as a matter of national survival. On Sunday, he shared an AI-generated image depicting a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv, warning about the possibility of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan accused him of creating fear ahead of the vote.

US President Donald Trump also renewed his public support for Netanyahu on Sunday, urging Israeli voters to re-elect him and calling for the military campaign against Iran to continue until its objectives were achieved.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to an endorsement letter he had published on October 18, in which he praised Netanyahu and highlighted their cooperation during military operations against Iran.

Trump said the two leaders had worked together against Iran and cited the US operation known as Operation Epic Fury. He claimed that Iran’s navy and air force had been severely weakened, its military and economy were in disarray, and a naval blockade had prevented it from exporting oil.

He also made claims about Iran’s inflation and the elimination of senior military and civilian leaders. These assertions were presented by Trump and were not independently established in the statement.

Calling on Israeli voters to support Netanyahu, Trump said the campaign against Iran must be completed. In his earlier letter to the Israeli public, he described Netanyahu as a strong wartime leader and a partner in efforts to confront what he characterised as longstanding Iranian threats to Israel and the United States.