KARACHI/ISTANBUL (Bernama-Anadolu): Repeated ceasefire violations and threats by the United States (US) are major obstacles to diplomatic progress between Iran and the US, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on Monday (April 20), Anadolu Ajansi reported.
The top diplomats spoke by phone amid efforts to advance a new round of talks between the two sides.
Dar "emphasised the importance of continued dialogue and engagement at the earliest to resolve all pending issues in order to promote regional peace and stability", according to a statement by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.
The call came as a US team led by Vice-President JD Vance was set to depart for Pakistan for potential talks with the Iranian side, which has yet to officially confirm its participation.
Dar and Araghchi also held a similar call on Sunday (April 19) as US advance teams began arriving in Islamabad.
In a statement released by Iran's Foreign Ministry, Araghchi, while appreciating Pakistan's mediation efforts, stressed that the repeated ceasefire violations and "provocative actions" by the US were "major obstacles" to diplomatic progress between the two sides.
He also pointed to threats and actions against Iranian commercial vessels as well as what he described as contradictory and threatening rhetoric from US officials as undermining the negotiation process.
Araghchi said Iran will take all factors into account in deciding how to proceed with diplomacy.
Pakistan hosted the first round of US-Iran talks on April 11-12 after brokering a 14-day ceasefire on April 8, which is set to expire on Wednesday (April 22).
Islamabad is also expecting a "positive development soon" regarding the Strait of Hormuz following a call from Pakistani army chief Gen Asim Munir to US President Donald Trump, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Monday.
The second round of talks between the US and Iran is expected soon in the Pakistani capital.
The strategic waterway has been effectively closed since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Feb 28.
Tehran declared the strait open on Friday (April 17) but closed it a day later after Trump announced that the blockade of Iranian ports would continue, and on Sunday, American forces detained an Iranian cargo ship after they opened fire and boarded it.
Iranian authorities have demanded the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Earlier, Pakistani sources said Iranians are expected to reach Islamabad on Tuesday. - Bernama-Anadolu
