Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan says Tehran is prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade, while accusing Washington of undermining diplomacy.
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Iran remains open to talks with the United States under a Pakistan-brokered interim deal reached in June to end the conflict, Tehran’s ambassador to Islamabad said Saturday.
Ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam spoke at a seminar in Islamabad and said Iran recently conveyed through Pakistan that it was prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington lifted its naval blockade. He accused U.S. President Donald Trump of rejecting the proposal and insisting the blockade of Iranian ports would continue.
Moghadam said Iranian officials indicated their willingness to reopen the strait during visits to Tehran by Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, but only if the U.S. ended its blockade.
He also said Iran would study the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, before deciding whether to support it. “We will study the Mecca Agreement, and if it is good, we will support it,” Moghadam said.
The June interim agreement was brokered with help from Pakistan and Qatar and aimed to restore shipping through the strait, lift the U.S. naval blockade, and begin negotiations toward a broader deal addressing Iran’s nuclear program.
Moghadam said the agreement was signed following renewed attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saudi Arabia. The three countries who signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement said it would strengthen collective deterrence and expand defence cooperation.
Turkey has submitted the Mecca agreement to parliament for ratification. Turkish and Pakistani officials say it is defensive and does not target Iran or any other country, with Turkey ruling out sending troops into Yemen to attack the Houthis and Pakistan saying its role would be strictly defensive.
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