Naqvi, Iranian counterpart Momeni discuss de-escalation, security issues in Bishkek

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni held an important meeting in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, where they discussed efforts to reduce regional tensions and issues related to internal security, the Interior Ministry announced on Friday.

In a report on X, the ministry said the two ministers held talks on Pakistan-Iran relations and the latest developments in the region.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a meeting of interior and public security ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Bishkek, which is being held from June 4 to 6.

“De-escalation efforts and internal security issues were discussed,” the ministry said, adding that the two sides exchanged views on regional developments during the meeting.

The ministry added that the two interior ministers stressed the need to continue diplomatic efforts on a sustained basis to ensure lasting peace in the region.

Naqvi last visited Tehran on May 21, which lasted four days, and it was his second visit in a matter of days, underscoring a growing sense of urgency, with some sources saying President Donald Trump had set a timetable for negotiations to be successful or risk further military escalation.

The interior minister met with Ahmad Vahidi, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and considered one of the country’s most powerful figures after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Naqvi also met with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian for the second time in less than a week.

Two days after Naqvi’s visit, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran and met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni.

According to the military news agency Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), “the discussions remained focused on accelerating the ongoing consultative process to support peace and stability in the region and reach a conclusive agreement.”

Read: CDF Munir drafts peace agreement (Vawda)

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran. Tehran retaliated by striking Israel and other Gulf countries harboring U.S. assets.

Pakistan then positioned itself as a key peace broker, brokering a two-week ceasefire and hosting the highest-level U.S.-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Although the “Islamabad Talks” ended without a deal, the ceasefire was maintained and then extended at Islamabad’s request.

Since then, the two sides have exchanged proposals and counter-proposals in an effort to reach common ground and resume a second round of direct talks aimed at ending the conflict, which has already disrupted global energy supplies and daily life in the region.

Although Pakistan remains hopeful of a resumption of direct negotiations, sources said there has been no “significant” change in Iran’s previous position on the nuclear issue in its response to the US proposals.

According to sources, Tehran’s response – delivered to the United States via Islamabad last week – focused mainly on an “immediate” end to hostilities, with “little results”. [in it] in terms of Washington’s fundamental demand regarding Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran, the sources added, has proposed “broader and separate” talks on the nuclear issue, citing its “complexity.”

However, Tehran “reiterated” its desire to stop uranium enrichment for a period of five years, while rejecting Washington’s request for a 20-year moratorium, according to the sources.