Arab Media, Commentators Criticise Mohsen Rezaei’s Alleged Cold Reception of Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran

TEHRAN: Arab media outlets and commentators have criticised the reportedly cold demeanour of Iranian official Mohsen Rezaei during a meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, during his visit to Iran, contrasting it with the warm reception extended to the Pakistani military chief by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Saudi commentator Dr Hamdan Al-Shehri, former Kuwaiti Information Minister Saad bin Tefla and commentator Omar Ghanem have all weighed in on the episode, questioning the Iranian official’s conduct. Some commentators also urged Pakistan’s leadership to demonstrate greater confidence and uphold the country’s national dignity in diplomatic engagements.

اتمنى ان يوصل احد رسالتي للاخوة الباكستانيين

انتم رجال اشداء. تعرفكم الجبال والوديان. ونعرف تاريخكم النضالي وبأسكم الحديدي لانتزاع استقلال بلادكم ونعرف القيم الكبرى التي قامت عليها روح العسكرية الباكستانية الصلبة.

هذه الميوعة التي تبدون عليها وانتم تقابلون الايرانيين … وهذا التهافت على الاحضان والقبل والضم الطويل وطريقة الجلوس المنكمشة وخاصة وزير داخليتكم، ويقابلها برود وتعالي اجوف يواجهكم به الايرانيون،، وتصريحاتهم السامة الطاعنة بكم عندما تغادرون … هذا السلوك المفرط بلينه منكم ،،، لا يليق بتاريخكم ولا بارث محمد علي جناح الخالد

شدوا نفسكم شوي ..

— Omar Ghanim (PhD) (@DrOmarGhanim) October 20, 2026

Arab news channels Al Hadath and Al Arabiya compared video footage of separate meetings between Field Marshal Munir and President Pezeshkian and Rezaei, highlighting what they described as a noticeable difference in the reception.

According to Al Hadath’s coverage, Pezeshkian greeted Munir warmly, shook hands with him and engaged in a cordial interaction. The meeting with Rezaei, by contrast, appeared more formal and less warm, prompting discussion across Arab media and social media platforms.

Omar Ghanem Praises Pakistan’s Military and National Resilience

In a detailed post on social media platform X, Omar Ghanem paid tribute to the courage and historical struggle of the Pakistani people and armed forces, while offering advice to the country’s leadership.

Expressing his wish that his message reach Pakistanis, Ghanem described them as a brave nation whose mountains and valleys bore witness to its history, struggle for independence and determination. He also praised the values on which Pakistan’s armed forces were built.

However, he criticised what he considered excessive warmth in diplomatic interactions, including repeated embraces and prolonged handshakes with officials who, in his assessment, responded with coldness or arrogance.

وزير الإعلام الكويتي السابق سعد بن طفلة عن لغة جسد وطريقة استقبال محسن رضائي لقائد الجيش الباكستاني: هناك أكثر من قيادة في إيران تفكر ليس "خارج الصندوق" وإنما تفكر خارج الواقع https://t.co/rtMpzqJ9jk

— العربية (@AlArabiya) October 20, 2026

Ghanem also referred to the seating posture of Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, describing it as overly accommodating. He alleged that some Iranian officials displayed a cold attitude towards Pakistani leaders during meetings and subsequently made harsh remarks about them.

Invoking the legacy of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Ghanem urged the country’s leadership to conduct itself in a manner consistent with Pakistan’s history and national dignity.

He concluded by encouraging Pakistanis to remain composed and demonstrate greater self-confidence in diplomatic engagements.

Saudi Commentator Hamdan Al-Shehri Condemns Rezaei’s Conduct

Saudi commentator Dr Hamdan Al-Shehri also reacted strongly to the reported interaction, publishing a critical statement on social media.

He said Field Marshal Munir had encountered conduct by Rezaei that he considered highly inappropriate. Al-Shehri used harsh language to describe the Iranian official’s demeanour, further intensifying criticism of the meeting’s optics in Arab social media discussions.

His remarks reflected his personal assessment of the interaction rather than an established finding of deliberate diplomatic disrespect.

Former Kuwaiti Minister Draws Comparison With Saddam Hussein

Former Kuwaiti Information Minister Saad bin Tefla also criticised Rezaei’s reported conduct during a programme on Al Arabiya.

He compared the Iranian official’s approach to that of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein during the international pressure and demands for withdrawal that followed Iraq’s invasion and occupation of Kuwait in 1990.

محسن رضائي لقائد الجيش الباكستاني: إيران ترفض إخراج أي مواد نووية مخصبة.. هذه المواد هي رأس المال والثروة لشعبنا https://t.co/Q3ShhbPjf9

— العربية (@AlArabiya) October 20, 2026

Bin Tefla argued that such thinking should not be portrayed as unconventional or independent-minded, describing it instead as an example of being detached from reality.

His comments extended beyond the interaction itself to criticism of Iran’s broader regional position and diplomatic approach.

Contrast Between Pezeshkian’s Warm Welcome and Rezaei’s Formal Demeanour

Footage circulated by Al Hadath and Al Arabiya showed the two separate meetings between Munir and the Iranian officials.

Pezeshkian’s meeting featured cordial exchanges, smiles and a warm handshake, while Rezaei’s interaction appeared more serious and formal. The contrast became a focal point of commentary about diplomatic etiquette and body language.

However, it remains unclear whether the apparent difference reflected personal styles, the circumstances of the separate meetings or a broader diplomatic consideration.

Iranian authorities have not issued a clarification establishing that Rezaei intended to insult or deliberately slight Pakistan’s military chief. The criticism of his body language therefore remains the interpretation of individual commentators and should not be treated as conclusive evidence of an intentional diplomatic affront.

Iran Maintains Its Position Amid Pakistan’s Diplomatic Efforts

The meetings took place as Pakistan continued diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States and encourage a resumption of negotiations.

According to Reuters, Rezaei told the Pakistani military chief that Iran would not transfer its enriched nuclear material outside the country. He also said Washington would need to take practical confidence-building steps before negotiations with Tehran could resume.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also emphasised Tehran’s conditions amid Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement.

Al Jazeera and the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat have reported on Munir’s visit to Tehran in the context of the diplomatic deadlock between Iran and the United States and wider regional tensions.

During his meeting with Munir, President Pezeshkian also discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation.

Pakistan has continued to pursue diplomatic contacts aimed at reducing regional tensions, even as the manner of Rezaei’s reception of the Pakistani military chief has attracted criticism from Arab media and commentators.

Nevertheless, assessments of Rezaei’s body language remain subjective. They do not, by themselves, establish Iran’s official position towards Pakistan or prove that a deliberate diplomatic insult took place.