Pakistan Army Chief Warns Trump: U.S. Blockade Undermines Iran Talks
Islamabad mediation efforts stall as Tehran refuses negotiations under continued maritime blockade and signals retaliation after U.S. ship seizure.
Islamabad, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Asim Munir has warned Donald Trump that the ongoing U.S. naval blockade targeting Iranian ports is obstructing efforts to resume negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
According to Reuters, citing a Pakistani security source, Munir conveyed to Trump that the blockade has directly hindered Islamabad’s mediation attempts for a second round of talks, after Iran announced it would not attend negotiations under current conditions.
Trump reportedly responded that he would consider the advice.
Blockade Disrupts Mediation Track
The development came hours after U.S. forces boarded an Iranian cargo vessel in the Sea of Oman, in what Tehran describes as part of Washington’s illegal maritime blockade on Iranian trade.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against the seizure and signaled it will not dispatch a delegation to Islamabad for further talks, following earlier negotiations this month that ended without results.
Officials in Tehran have pointed to what they describe as excessive U.S. demands, alongside Washington’s refusal to lift the blockade, as key obstacles to any agreement.
Ceasefire Window Narrows as Talks Stall
Last week, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed that proposals had been delivered through Munir during his visit to Tehran, adding that the framework remains under review.
Iranian and U.S. delegations previously held intensive talks in Pakistan on April 11, days after Islamabad mediated a ceasefire aimed at halting the U.S.-Israeli aggression against Iran, which began in late February and was met with a large-scale Iranian response.
Trump said Sunday that a negotiating team—reportedly led by JD Vance—would be sent to Pakistan for renewed talks, just days before the ceasefire is set to expire on April 22. (PW)