US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering giving up his ‘Trump Card’ as he told Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir that he may consider lifting the military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz in order to allow the US and Iran to move towards a deal.
According to a report citing Pakistani officials, Trump spoke to Munir, a key mediator between the US and Iran, on Sunday.
During their telephonic conversation, Munir told Trump that the US blockade of Iranian ports is hampering the peace talks between the countries, urging him to lift it.
In response, Trump reportedly told Munir that he would consider the recommendation of the Pakistani army chief if it meant the countries could move towards a permanent peace deal.
Earlier, Trump had stated that the US blockade would continue until Iran agrees to the peace deal.
The development comes amid the uncertainty over the second round of talks in Islamabad. While a US delegation-led by Vice-President JD Vance has reportedly left for Islamabad, Iran has said that it was still considering whether to take part in negotiations planned for this evening.
“As of now… we have no plans for the next round of negotiations, and no decision has been made in this regard,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said, according to AFP.
Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has signalled Tehran’s interest in achieving a permanent end to the war.
In a social media post, Pezeshkian said that while Iran must stand firm “against injustice and excessive demands” of the US, the continuation of the war “benefits no one.”
“The more issues can be managed through reason and in a calm environment, the more it will benefit everyone,” he said.