Tag: PAKISTAN

Pakistan supports Iran’s right to possess ballistic missiles during Pezeshkian’s visit

HYDERABAD,JUNE 24 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly defended Iran's right to possess ballistic missiles, saying Tehran's missile program was never part of the peace deal between the United States (US) and Iran brokered by Islamabad. He argued that Iran should not be subjected to double standards regarding its missile capabilities. Speaking during talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his high-level delegation in Islamabad, Shehbaz said the issue of Iran's ballistic missiles was never part of the discussions that led to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached between Iran and the US on June 17. "There can be no double standard when some countries are allowed to have ballistic missiles while Iran is not." "This MoU does not mention anything about ballistic missiles. "It was never discussed and it was never on the agenda," the Pakistani Prime Minister said, adding that the Iranian side "never wanted to discuss" the missile issue. Shehbaz's action to defend Iran's missile program came at a time when Tehran considers its missile capabilities important to national security following the attacks launched by Israel and the US on Feb 28. Before helping in the mediation efforts that led to the US-Iran deal this month, Pakistan also facilitated a temporary ceasefire between the two sides in April. Shehbaz said he was grateful to Iran for the trust placed in Pakistan's mediation efforts, which also involved the active role of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. "I am deeply grateful to you and the Iranian leadership for placing continued trust in Pakistan's ability to mediate honestly and sincerely," he said. "I want to assure you that as brothers, we will not let you down," Shehbaz told the Iranian president, according to a statement posted on the prime minister's Facebook page. However, Shehbaz said there were certain parties trying to prevent the US and Iran from reaching an agreement. "There are troublemakers all over the world who want to derail this peace agreement," he said. Israel has emerged as the greatest obstacle to peace in West Asia, with its continued attacks causing death and destruction in Lebanon and occupied Palestine. US President Donald Trump recently acknowledged that Iran could possess ballistic missiles. "I said that if other countries have ballistic missiles, it would be a bit unfair if Iran wasn't allowed to have them," Trump told reporters in Paris on June 17. In a press conference with Shehbaz, Pezeshkian stressed that Iran's defense capabilities are non-negotiable. "If the missiles we have to defend the country did not exist, Israel and America would destroy Iran as they did in Gaza without showing mercy to the old or the young," Pezeshkian said. -- BERNAMA

HYDERABAD,JUNE 24 — Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly defended Iran’s right to possess ballistic missiles, saying Tehran’s missile program was never part of the peace deal between the United States (US) and Iran brokered by Islamabad. He argued that Iran should not be subjected to double standards regarding its missile capabilities. Speaking […]

Trump Says US To Help Escort Neutral Ships Out Of Strait Of Hormuz Starting Monday

ISTANBUL, May 4 -- US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States would begin escorting neutral foreign vessels safely out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning West Asian time, describing the effort as a “humanitarian gesture” toward countries caught up in a conflict they have no part in. Anadolu Ajansi reported Trump said ships from countries around the world had asked the US for help after becoming trapped in the waterway. He said he had instructed his representatives to inform those nations that the US would use its "best efforts" to guide their ships and crews out of the restricted passage, adding the vessels would not return until the area was safe for navigation. Trump named the initiative "Project Freedom," saying many of the stranded ships were running low on food and other essentials needed to keep large crews in healthy condition. "The ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong - They are victims of circumstance," he said. He said the move was “for the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States,” adding that any interference with the humanitarian effort would "have to be dealt with forcefully." Trump also said his representatives are engaging in "very positive" discussions with Iran that he believed "could lead to something very positive for all." Iran did not immediately react to his announcement. The announcement came as Trump told the Israeli media outlet Kan News that he had studied Iran's proposal to end the war and found it unacceptable. "It's not acceptable to me. I've studied it, I've studied everything — it's not acceptable," he said. On Saturday, he had already expressed skepticism, saying Tehran had not yet paid a "big enough price" for its actions over the past 47 years. Despite the public dismissal, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN that Washington remained engaged, Anadolu reported. "We're in conversation," Witkoff said when asked about the state of discussions. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Saturday that Tehran had submitted a 14-point response to a US proposal through a Pakistani intermediary. Iran said Sunday that it had received a US response and was reviewing it. The Axios news site reported that the US on Sunday submitted a newly revised draft agreement aimed at ending the war in response to Iran’s latest proposal. The war paused after a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire took hold in early April and was later extended indefinitely. Peace talks were held in Islamabad last month, but an agreement was not reached, and another round could not be arranged. Trump said "we're not flying anymore with 18-hour flights every time we want to see a piece of paper. We're doing it telephonically.” -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

ISTANBUL, May 4 — US President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States would begin escorting neutral foreign vessels safely out of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning West Asian time, describing the effort as a “humanitarian gesture” toward countries caught up in a conflict they have no part in. Anadolu Ajansi reported […]