Despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and the firing on tankers including two Indian vessels seeking to transit, reports from Islamabad say two major hotels including the Serena have asked their guests to leave.
The Serena had hosted the US-Iran talks last time and it would appear the same venue is being readied for the next round likely before Friday.
Movement of all heavy transport including buses has been restricted and the highway leading to the airport has been blocked ahead of the expected arrival of the negotiating teams.
But from Tehran the word is there is no date for the next round with Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh slamming the US for not giving up its “maximalist demands.”
President Pezeshkian said “The fact that on the one hand they were saying they wanted to bring the Iranian people to progress, and on the other hand they claimed they wanted to return our country to ‘the Stone Age’ and destroy our civilisation, clearly demonstrates the nature of the aggressors and their goals in attacking our country.”
From Washington DC President Trump continued his stream of bellicose rhetoric. A post on Truth Social warned that “We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran”.
Meanwhile, reports say US intelligence has red flagged Pak Army Chief Gen Asim Munir’s long-standing links with Iran’s top military brass. Fox News Digital quoted a retired Pakistani general Ahmed Saeed as saying that “Munir maintained personal relationships with slain Quds Force Commander Gen Qasim Soleimani amd IRGC chief Hossain Salami.
Pakistan was described as a “perfidious ally”, given its past role in supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan while ostensibly helping the US.
Munir has wrapped up a three-day visit to Iran while Prime Minister Shahbaz Sherif returned over the weekend from visits to Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Qatar.
