ISLAMABAD: Iran remains open to talks with the United States under an interim deal brokered with Pakistan and Qatar, Tehran’s Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam said Saturday.
Moghadam said Tehran recently used Pakistan as a diplomatic channel to offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington lifted its naval blockade.
He accused President Donald Trump of rejecting the proposal by insisting the blockade on Iranian ports would continue. Pakistan and Qatar helped broker the June arrangement.
The agreement sought to restore commercial shipping through the strait, end the US blockade and start negotiations on a broader deal concerning Iran’s nuclear programme.
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Moghadam said Iranian officials conveyed their position during visits to Tehran by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Tehran tied its offer to Washington ending the blockade. The Iranian envoy also addressed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
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He said Tehran would study the pact before deciding whether to support it. “If it is good, we will support it,” Moghadam said.
Separately, Iran warned Saturday that US military ships would not be allowed into the Persian Gulf. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said Friday that American strikes on Iran could resume as soon as the weekend.
