ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-Iran trade will continue in accordance with international law, with Islamabad rejecting unilateral US sanctions on Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Thursday.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Andrabi said Pakistan has consistently opposed unilateral measures and does not accept sanctions imposed independently by the United States.
He said such restrictions have negative consequences and are not considered by Pakistan to be consistent with international law. Andrabi described economic pressure on Iran as part of the broader deadlock between Tehran and Washington and called for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve their differences.
On the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesperson expressed confidence that regional diplomatic efforts could produce constructive results. He said, however, that any final resolution depends on Iran and the United States.
Asked about the possibility of Iran joining a Pakistan-Saudi Arabia-Turkey trilateral arrangement, Andrabi said the framework remained open to all countries. He added that Islamabad was not aware of any country formally seeking membership.
Andrabi also addressed Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran this week, saying his meetings with senior Iranian officials were constructive and reflected Pakistan’s efforts to help resolve the regional crisis.
Read: Asim Munir Iran Visit Was Not as Trump Envoy, Pakistan Says
He rejected media speculation that Munir had travelled to Iran as an envoy of the US president. Andrabi said the visit took place within the framework of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations and Islamabad’s peace diplomacy.
