ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump told Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir he would consider concerns about the Strait of Hormuz blockade during a phone call, a Pakistani security source told Reuters on Monday.
Trump and Munir discussed the issue in a call in which Munir warned that the blockade was a hurdle to peace talks with Iran, the source said. The exchange underscored Pakistan’s role as mediator at a moment when hopes for dialogue were unraveling.
Over the weekend, U.S. Marines intercepted and seized an Iranian‑flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, disabling its engines after repeated warnings were ignored. The vessel, identified in some reports as the ‘Touska’, was already under U.S. Treasury sanctions. Washington described the operation as part of a broader maritime blockade designed to choke Iran’s oil exports and enforce sanctions.
Iran denounced the seizure as a violation of international law and warned of swift retaliation, with officials hinting at possible drone or missile strikes against U.S. or allied vessels. The incident rattled global energy markets, sending crude prices sharply higher given the Strait’s role in handling nearly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil.
Against this backdrop, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday it would not send a delegation to Pakistan for the anticipated second round of talks with the United States. Spokesperson Esmail Baqai told reporters in Tehran: “In the current circumstances, dialogue with the United States is not possible. We cannot trust America. We have no intention of participating in new negotiations with America. America has violated the ceasefire. We have informed the Pakistani mediator.”
Pakistan had imposed sweeping security measures in Islamabad in anticipation of the talks, including clearing major hotels of guests, suspending metro bus services, and restricting public transport. The sudden withdrawal leaves those preparations in limbo and casts doubt on Islamabad’s mediation effort.
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Diplomatic observers say the collapse of the Islamabad track highlights the depth of mistrust between Tehran and Washington, and raises fresh doubts about prospects for de‑escalation in the Gulf. For Pakistan, the reversal leaves behind a capital disrupted by extraordinary security measures — and a mediation role now hanging in the balance.
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