Khan’s mediation bid to lessen US-Iran tensions

United Nations: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he is working to help defuse the tensions in the Gulf at the request of both US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
At a meeting with Trump in New York on Monday, Trump asked him for help as Khan was going to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani later in the day, Khan told reporters on Tuesday.
Before his meeting with Trump, Khan had been in Saudi Arabia and had met with bin Salman, who also asked him to talk to Rouhani.
“I spoke to Prince Mohammad bin Salman and he also asked me to talk to the Iranian president. He knew I was meeting him,” said Khan.
“Also, President Trump asked me that if we could de-escalate the situation and maybe come up with another deal. So I did convey this and, yes, we are trying our best,” he added.
“I immediately spoke to President Rouhani yesterday, after the meeting with President Trump, but right now I can’t say anything more than this except that we are trying and mediating,” Khan said, adding, “I am hoping that there is no conflict. I do not believe that conflicts actually resolve anything.”.
Pakistan traditionally has strong relations with Saudi Arabia but also maintains ties with Iran, with Islamabad representing Tehran’s consular interests in the United States in the absence of diplomatic relations. (Agencies)