ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday stressed the need for continued dialogue and diplomacy in a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as regional tensions persisted amid the US-Iran conflict and renewed fighting in Yemen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Foreign Office said the two ministers discussed the evolving regional situation as well as the ongoing meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation\u2019s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Baghdad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Dar \u201cunderscored the importance of continued dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges\u201d, the FO said, adding that the two sides agreed to remain in close contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Dar also held a telephone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and exchanged views on recent regional developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ministers strongly condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed their solidarity with the kingdom as well as support for its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. They also discussed cooperation under the Regional Four (R-4) framework comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia. The two ministers looked forward to the next R-4 meeting to coordinate further on regional issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran rejects \u2018threats\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Mr Arag\u00adhchi told the OIC meeting in Baghdad that Iran \u201cdoes not accept coercion, threats, or intimidation\u201d by the US and \u201cwill not relinquish its sovereign rights under pressure\u201d. \u201cBut it remains ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and credible guarantees,\u201d he added. Speaking to the media in Baghdad, Mr Araghchi said Iran\u2019s offer to reopen the strategic waterway within seven days remained on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur situation is clear and based on the seven-day proposal presented to the US. They shared comments which we are reviewing, but our proposal is still on the table,\u201d Mr Araghchi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that if the US showed \u201chonesty\u201d, the path towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz was clear. Iran\u2019s conditions incl\u00adude lifting the US blockade on its ports, removing sanctions on its oil exports and ending hostilities across regional fronts. Mr Araghchi added that if Washington accepted Tehran\u2019s conditions, the strait could reopen within six days, followed by the resumption of talks the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n US warned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Iran\u2019s newly appointed defence minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi warned that any renewed US military attack would cause \u201cenormous damage\u201d to Washington and its regional allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople can rest assured that they will most likely not dare to attack us,\u201d Mr Akhlaghi told reporters shortly after securing parliament\u2019s vote of confidence. \u201cIf they do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday stressed the need for continued dialogue and diplomacy in a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as regional tensions persisted amid the US-Iran conflict and renewed fighting in Yemen. The Foreign Office said the two ministers discussed the evolving regional situation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n