Pakistan Rejects US Unilateral Sanctions on Iran
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Islamabad does not recognise the United States’ unilateral sanctions on Iran and stressed the continuation of trade ties with Tehran on the basis of agreements between the two countries.
Tahir Andrabi said at his weekly news briefing on Thursday that Pakistan has always opposed unilateral actions and does not consider such sanctions acceptable under international law. He added that these restrictions carry negative consequences.
The Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman described the economic pressure on Iran as part of a broader confrontation between Tehran and Washington and said these issues should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
His remarks came after the United States announced a fresh round of sanctions against Iran on Monday and warned countries and entities that maintain trade relations with Tehran of secondary penalties.
Andrabi also said, in response to a question about the status of the Strait of Hormuz, that Islamabad hopes regional efforts to address the issue of this strategic waterway will produce constructive results. However, he stressed that a final resolution of the matter depends on Iran and the United States as the two main parties.
In another part of his remarks, he dismissed speculation about Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, visiting Tehran, saying the trip took place within the framework of bilateral relations and regional diplomacy for peace. According to him, claims that Munir visited as an envoy of Donald Trump are false.
Pakistan shares a border with Iran, and the two countries’ trade and security relations have remained important issues in regional affairs in recent years. The Strait of Hormuz is also considered one of the world’s most important waterways, through which a significant share of energy shipments passes.
