Pakistan's interior minister heads to Tehran for talks on Houthi escalation in Yemen

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is set to travel to Iran in the coming hours, following a call by Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir for Iran to rein in the Houthis, amid growing concerns over the impact of Houthi attacks in Yemen on regional security and Red Sea shipping.

Sources from Al Arabiya and Al Hadath reported on Friday that Naqvi will discuss the Houthi escalation in Yemen and its implications for regional security during his visit to Iran.

The Financial Times reported on Friday that Pakistan's army chief had urged Iran to restrain the Houthis, as tensions in the region continue to rise.

Naqvi's upcoming visit was preceded by a phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Asim Munir, during which they discussed the latest regional developments, according to Iranian media. The call took place while Araghchi was in Beijing on Wednesday.

The conversation came as negotiations between Washington and Tehran have stalled, with no agreement in sight. US President Donald Trump said he hopes the end of the war with Iran is near.

Separately, another media report indicated that Trump is expected to meet Gulf leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next Tuesday to discuss the conflict.

The war with Iran has now entered its seventh month with no resolution in sight, while concerns over Red Sea shipping have intensified this month after the Iran-aligned Houthi group stepped up attacks, threatening navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.