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The US started imposing a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime visitors Monday, sharply escalating tensions within the Gulf simply hours after high-level talks in Pakistan between Washington and Tehran collapsed with no deal.
The transfer, introduced by President Donald Trump, got here after negotiations in Islamabad ended with no breakthrough, regardless of what members described as uncommon direct engagement between the 2 sides.
However Lt. Gen. (ret.) Mohammed Saeed, former chief of normal workers of the Pakistan Army, stated in an unique interview with Fox Information Digital that the talks got here far nearer to success than their end result suggests — and argued that diplomacy continues to be inside attain.
“Either side are saying they had been very shut … even inches away from an answer,” he stated primarily based on his personal data and stories. Saeed retired in 2023 however remained a part of the core workforce dealing with operational planning, inner safety coordination, and delicate intervals of political pressure.
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“They talked to one another in a really pleasant method. There was, from either side, an expression of lodging and understanding from one another. So, what you’ll be able to briefly say is that the engagement has enough potential to renew.”
The US started imposing a naval blockade focusing on Iranian maritime visitors April 13, 2026. (Farooq NAEEM / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
Talking on the White Home Monday, Trump defended the blockade, saying, “Proper now, there’s no preventing. Proper now, we now have a blockade … Iran is doing completely no enterprise, and we’re going to maintain it that manner very simply.”
He added that Iran’s army capabilities had been considerably degraded, saying its “Navy has gone, their air power is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone, their radar is gone and their leaders are gone.”
Vice President JD Vance, who led the U.S. delegation, pressed Iran to just accept a strict “zero enrichment” coverage and take away its stockpile of extremely enriched uranium.
“The straightforward truth is that we have to see an affirmative dedication that they won’t search a nuclear weapon, and they won’t search the instruments that may allow them to shortly obtain a nuclear weapon,” Vance stated at a press conference in Islamabad.
Iranian leaders rejected these calls for, insisting that any settlement should embody the rapid launch of billions of {dollars} in frozen property.
Now, with the blockade in place, Saeed instructed the transfer could also be designed much less as a army endgame and extra as leverage.
“This blockade might be … a maneuver to construct additional strain on Iran to barter,” he stated.
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Vice President JD Vance speaks throughout a information convention after assembly with representatives from Pakistan and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 12, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)
The escalation has raised concerns globally, notably for nations depending on Gulf vitality flows, together with Pakistan.
“Everybody on the earth have to be fearful about what sort of financial destructive spin-offs such a blockade would have,” Saeed stated.
Saeed, who till not too long ago sat on the middle of Pakistan’s army management, framed the Islamabad talks as a vital reopening of dialogue after a long time of hostility.
“It’s the first time in 47 years … that there was engagement on the highest degree,” he stated, calling it “a terrific second for diplomacy” and an indication of Pakistan’s potential to keep up credibility with each Washington and Tehran.
He pointed specifically to Pakistan’s military chief, Asim Munir, a determine who has drawn uncommon consideration in Washington.
Trump has publicly praised Munir, at one level calling him his “favourite subject marshal,” elevating his profile as a key middleman in regional diplomacy.
Munir, who rose by way of Pakistan’s intelligence ranks earlier than changing into military chief, beforehand served as director normal of army intelligence and later led the Inter-Companies Intelligence (ISI). His profession has been outlined by deep involvement in regional safety and intelligence coordination, together with longstanding engagement with Iran.
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Safety personnel examine automobiles coming into the Overseas Ministry workplace in Islamabad on April 9, 2026. (Aamir QURESHI / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
These ties may show vital within the present disaster, based on Saeed.
“What individuals have no idea is that when he was director normal of army intelligence … he was interacting with Iranians at a number of ranges constantly,” Saeed stated, describing years of direct engagement with Iran’s army, intelligence and political management, together with former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike throughout Trump’s first time period.
“He has had interplay with them for a very long time … visiting Iran continuously and interacting on a number of points,” Saeed stated, including that many present Iranian officers would already be accustomed to Munir from earlier roles.
That continuity, he argued, offers Pakistan a uncommon benefit at a second when formal diplomatic channels are strained.
“What one can say is that he continues to be one determine internationally who has a private interplay … within the intelligence group in Iran within the army hierarchy and likewise on the aspect of the political management,” Saeed stated.
“In order that’s an enormous benefit he has on the opposite aspect.”
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Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi had been greeted by Pakistan Overseas Minister Ishaq Dar and Military Chief Subject Marshal Gen. Asim Munir upon their arrival at Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 11, 2026. (Pakistan Ministry of Overseas Affairs/AP)
For Pakistan, that non-public entry — mixed with its simultaneous relationship with Washington — has turn into central to its effort to place itself as a reputable middleman, even because the area edges nearer to confrontation.
On the similar time, Pakistan’s position as a mediator has drawn scrutiny, notably given its longstanding place on Israel and up to date inflammatory remarks by senior officers.
When requested whether or not Pakistan may be seen as a impartial dealer whereas not recognizing Israel — an actor immediately concerned in strikes on Iran — Saeed downplayed the problem, saying Israel was not a part of the diplomatic monitor.
“Pakistan’s place with regard to relations with Israel has been constant since our independence,” he stated, including that Islamabad’s mediation efforts had been targeted solely on Washington and Tehran.
“Neither of their representatives was on the desk … Pakistan was mediating between the U.S. and Iran,” he stated.
Regardless of the present escalation, Saeed maintained that diplomatic channels stay open.
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Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement on the Enqelab sq., in Tehran, on April 8, 2026. The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour earlier than U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate the rival nation was set to run out, with Tehran to briefly reopen the very important Strait of Hormuz. (AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
“There may be numerous house … for resuming the method,” he stated, suggesting talks may restart in Islamabad or elsewhere if either side shift course.
“On Pakistan’s aspect, from my private data of the sector marshal, they’re relentless. They might not hand over. They need to not have given up. They have to be constantly in contact with either side. And they might attempt their finest to persuade either side that the blockade just isn’t going to be of their curiosity, within the curiosity of the area and within the curiosity of the worldwide group.”
