Pakistan links Iran trade prospects to sanctions relief

Addressing the weekly press briefing, Foreign Of­f­ice spokesperson Tahir Hus­sain Andrabi said the pathway towards sanctions relief for Iran had alre­ady been initiated thr­o­ugh talks held in Buergenstock, Switzerland. He described the process as a positive development and expressed the hope that the negotiations would produce constructive results as they moved forward. Responding to a question, the spokesman said there had been a temporary pause in technical-level discussions between Iran and the United States and that the talks would resume next Tuesday, in the presence of a Pakistani delegation. He said the continuation of dialogue between the two sides was itself an encouraging sign. “It is a very positive dev­e­lopment that both parties are engaged in talks and remain at the negotiating table,” he remarked. Commenting on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesman said tensions were likely to ease as diplomatic efforts progressed. However, he noted that a complete return to normal operations in the strategically important waterway could take some time due to operational requirements. On a question regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesperson said Pakistan supported the initiatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council and believed in regional ownership of regional issues. He stressed the importance of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states in the region. Discussing the recent visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Pakis