ISLAMABAD: Pakistani and Saudi foreign ministers on Monday spoke over phone and discussed regional maritime security, the Pakistani foreign office said, as President Donald Trump said he was considering relaunching his “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump told Fox News that Washington would continue to pressure Tehran until a deal is reached and that Iran would eventually “surrender,” amid persisting tensions with Tehran over a proposed agreement aimed at ending their conflict that began on Feb. 28.
If resumed, he indicated, Project Freedom would expand beyond escorting commercial vessels through the strait. The operation was launched last week to help free ships stranded in the waterway before being suspended about 48 hours later to allow space for diplomatic efforts.
Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar and Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the evolving situation, with the latter reiterating Saudi support for Islamabad’s efforts for peace, particularly in the context of ongoing US-Iran engagement, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“Both leaders also exchanged views on the importance of safeguarding maritime security, including in the Strait of Hormuz, and agreed to remain in close contact on regional and international developments,” the foreign office said.
Pakistan, which hosted US and Iranian officials on April 11-12 for their first direct talks since 2015, has been acting as a go-between for messages between the two sides, spearheading a diplomatic push to end the months-long crisis.
Separately on Monday, Dar met the top US diplomat in Islamabad to discuss efforts to secure a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran
“FM highlighted Pakistan’s role in facilitating communication between US and Iran, while expressing hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts would contribute to peace and stability in the region and beyond,” Pakistan’s foreign office said after Monday’s meeting.
Iran has maintained a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy and cargo supplies, since the war began in Feb. The US last month imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
On Monday, oil prices rose sharply after Trump rejected Iran’s response, fueling concerns that the 10-week conflict could continue and prolong disruptions to shipping through the strait. The US had proposed pausing the fighting before entering negotiations on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian state media said Tehran had demanded compensation for war damages while reaffirming its sovereignty over the strategic waterway. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency also reported that Tehran called on Washington to end its naval blockade, halt further attacks, lift sanctions and remove restrictions on Iranian oil exports.
