Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has reportedly urged US President Donald Trump to reconsider Washington's blockade of Iranian ports, arguing that it has become a major obstacle to restarting peace talks between the United States and Iran.
According to Reuters which cited a Pakistani security source, Munir told Trump during a recent conversation that the blockade was preventing diplomatic progress and making it difficult for Tehran to re-engage in negotiations.
"Munir told Trump the US blockade of Iranian ports was a hurdle to peace talks between the U.S. and Iran resuming," the source said, according to the report.
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Reuters also reported that Trump responded by saying he would consider Munir's advice. The reported exchange comes at a time when a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran appears increasingly uncertain.
According to the report, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reached out to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, urging Tehran to send a delegation for talks in Pakistan.
However, Pezeshkian reportedly declined, saying Iran would not participate in talks until the blockade was lifted. Pezeshkian said on Monday that every rational and diplomatic path should be used to reduce tensions with the United States.
At the same time, he stressed that vigilance and distrust in dealings with Washington remained an undeniable necessity, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA.
Iranian state media also reported that Tehran had rejected fresh peace talks with the US, citing the continuing blockade, threatening rhetoric from Washington, and what it called shifting US positions and excessive demands.
The ceasefire between the United States and Iran appeared to come under renewed strain after the US reportedly seized an Iranian cargo ship headed towards Bandar Abbas despite the blockade.
Tehran has vowed retaliation and has so far refused to join new talks planned in Pakistan.
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Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Washington of undermining diplomacy. "Washington had shown it was not serious about pursuing the diplomatic process," Baghaei said, adding that Iran would not change its clearly stated demands.
Baghaei also said Tehran did not believe in "deadlines or ultimatums" when it came to protecting national interests. The US had been hoping to begin another round of negotiations in Pakistan before the current two-week ceasefire expires.
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