Donald Trump says US-Iran talks could resume in Pakistan as US blockade of Iranian ports escalates tensions

US President Donald Trump says Iran talks could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, according to an interview with the New York Post.

“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” Mr Trump was quoted as saying.

Mr Trump said Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was doing a “great job” on the talks.

“He’s fantastic, and therefore it’s more likely that we go back there,” Mr Trump said.

The collapse of weekend negotiations prompted the United States to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.

The initial round of talks ended without an agreement on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which the White House said was a central sticking point.

The United States blockade of Iranian ports involved more than 10,000 military personnel, more than a dozen warships and dozens of aircraft, US Central Command said on Tuesday.

“During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the US blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from US forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” the command said in a statement a day after the blockade announced by Mr Trump took effect.

“The blockade is being enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” it said.

“US forces are supporting freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.”

A source involved in the talks told Reuters on Tuesday that Iran and the US could return to the Pakistani capital as early as the end of this week, and that a proposal had been shared with both sides to resend their delegations.

“No firm date has been set, with the delegations keeping Friday through Sunday open,” a senior Iranian source said.

with AP