Pakistan, Sept. 18 -- Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir has urged Iran to persuade Yemen's Houthi group not to target Saudi Arabia's energy facilities, Pakistani government officials told Anadolu on Thursday.

In Islamabad's latest attempt to bring a negotiated settlement to the raging Middle East conflict, CDF Munir spoke to Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi over the phone, urging Tehran to "use its influence" on Houthis to halt their strikes on Saudi oil and economic infrastructure, the sources added.

The two spoke during Araghchi's visit to China on Wednesday, Iranian state media confirmed.

"The army chief discussed the overall regional situation, with special focus on Houthis' attacks and revi...