Islamabad: Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir allegedly used a private oil transport venture linked to a senior Iranian military commander to broker an understanding that helped protect Saudi Arabia from Iranian attacks during the ongoing regional conflict, according to a report by The Times of Israel. The report cites three anonymous officials familiar with the matter. Neither Pakistan’s military nor the Saudi government has publicly confirmed the allegations.
The report claims the arrangement was reached during the early stages of the US-Israel-Iran conflict and was aimed at preventing the war from expanding further into the Gulf.
Alleged oil venture at the centre of the report
According to The Times of Israel, Munir allegedly leveraged a joint oil transport business with Ahmad Vahidi, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to persuade Tehran to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia. The report claims the venture had been transporting Iranian oil to Pakistan since late 2025 despite international sanctions.
The publication, citing unnamed diplomatic and intelligence officials, alleged that continued operation of the venture was used as leverage during back-channel negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Deal reportedly reduced attacks on Saudi Arabia
The report states that the alleged understanding was reached in late March, after Saudi Arabia had come under repeated missile and drone attacks during the first month of the conflict.
According to the officials quoted in the report, attacks on Saudi territory largely stopped after the agreement was reached. However, following a reported Iranian missile strike over the weekend, Munir allegedly warned Vahidi that further attacks could jeopardise the continuation of the oil venture.
These claims have not been independently verified.
No official response from Pakistan or Saudi Arabia
As of now, there has been no official statement from Pakistan’s military, the Government of Pakistan or Saudi Arabian authorities responding to the allegations.
The report also said requests for comment sent to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and the Saudi Embassy did not receive a response before publication.
Without official confirmation, the allegations remain unverified.
Pakistan’s growing role in regional diplomacy
The report comes amid increased international attention on Pakistan’s role in Middle East diplomacy under Asim Munir.
Recent reports have highlighted Munir’s efforts to mediate between Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States during the ongoing regional conflict, positioning Pakistan as an important diplomatic player.
Pakistan also maintains close strategic and defence ties with Saudi Arabia while sharing a long border and economic relationship with neighbouring Iran.
Allegations likely to draw scrutiny
If substantiated, the allegations could raise questions about unofficial business dealings involving senior military figures and their potential influence on regional diplomacy.
However, since the claims rely on anonymous sources and have not been corroborated by official agencies or independent investigations, they should be treated with caution until further evidence emerges.