Interior Minister Naqvi reaches Tehran amid Pakistan's push to revive US-Iran talks

• Naqvi "carrying" CDF's message for Iran's supreme leader.
• Visit comes amid renewed tension between US and Iran.
• PM Shehbaz provides guidance to Naqvi regarding Iran visit.
  

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi landed in Tehran to hold talks with the Iranian leadership, the interior ministry said on Saturday, as Pakistan stepped up efforts to help revive dialogue between the United States and Iran.

The interior minister's visit comes amid renewed tensions between Washington and Tehran, with recent tit-for-tat attacks threatening the fragile ceasefire, in place since April 8.

Interior Minister Naqvi will hold meetings with the Iranian leadership during his visit.

During the visit, the security czar will relay messages to the Iranian leadership from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

Pakistan has been acting as a key mediator between the US and Iran since hostilities erupted in the Middle East late February.

The Middle East conflict began after the US and Iran launched coordinated attacks on Iran on February 28. Tehran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US bases across the region, and also closed the Strait of Hormuz.

While hostilities have largely subsided since the April 8 ceasefire mediated by Pakistan, the US and Iran have exchanged strikes on several occasions, with each side accusing the other of violating the truce.

Before leaving for Tehran, the interior minister called on PM Shehbaz to discuss his visit and review domestic law and order and security situation.

During the meeting, the prime minister provided guidance to Naqvi regarding his Iran visit, according to a statement issued by the PM Office.

Renewed tension

Tensions between Washington and Tehran surged again on Friday when the US military said it struck radar sites in Iran after downing drones headed toward the strait.

Shortly after, air raid sirens sounded in neighboring Gulf nations Kuwait and Bahrain — both US allies — and AFP correspondents in both countries heard explosions.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said early Saturday they had targeted "enemy bases in the area" with missiles in response to a US "invasion" of the country's Sirik and Qeshm islands.

US Central Command (Centcom) said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain.

Centcom said six of the missiles were downed while the seventh "did not reach its intended target."

"There are currently no reports of harm to US personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging US 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false," the command said in a statement.