US blockade hindering talks, Pakistan tells Trump

Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir has spoken with US President Donald Trump over the phone regarding peace talks with Iran, a Pakistani security source told Reuters on Monday, April 20.

During the call, Munir informed Trump that the US blockade on Iranian ports is posing a major obstacle to resuming peace talks between the United States and Iran.

The source said Trump assured Munir that he would consider the advice.

The source also said Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had contacted Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to request sending a delegation to Pakistan. However, Pezeshkian stated that Iran would not send any delegation until the blockade is lifted.

Meanwhile, following a US attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Oman Sea, a spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters said the Iranian military is ready to confront US forces.

The US military has claimed it fired upon and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named Tuska, which was heading to Iran's Bandar Abbas port on Sunday.

The Iranian military spokesperson said the armed forces exercised restraint because the Tuska had crew members and their families on board. However, once they are safe, the Iranian military will take necessary measures against US forces.

Source: Reuters