Iran sets conditions for Pakistan talks, says US must drop ‘pressure and threats’

Iran could attend talks in Pakistan if the United States abandons its policy of pressure and threats, a senior Iranian official told Reuters, signalling that participation remains conditional.

The official said Tehran continues to reject negotiations conducted under pressure or aimed at what it sees as “surrender”, accusing Washington of creating new obstacles instead of resolving existing issues.

He added that Pakistan’s efforts to persuade the US to lift a naval blockade and release an Iranian ship and its crew have so far not yielded results.

The remarks come amid fragile diplomatic efforts, with uncertainty still surrounding whether talks in Pakistan will go ahead. –Agencies