NEW YORK – Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan said that US President DonaldTrump had asked him to mediate with Iran to defuse tensions.
PM Imran met Trump and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines ofthis week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) before which he visitedCrown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, whom he said had made thesame request.
“Trump asked me that if we could de-escalate the situation and maybe comeup with another deal,” PM Khan told journalist at the gathering of worldleaders in New York.
“Yes, we did convey this, and yes, we´re trying our best,” he said. “Iimmediately spoke to President Rouhani yesterday after the meeting withPresident Trump. I can’t say anything right now more than this, except thatwe’re trying and mediating,” he added.
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The prime minister also said that the Saudi crown prince had also asked meto talk to the Iranian president. Speculation has been rife about apossible face-to-face between Trump and Rouhani on the sidelines of thegeneral assembly, with France’s Emmanuel Macron trying to broker what wouldbe a historic meeting.
At a separate briefing to reporters where Trump spoke on Iran, he said,“They would like to negotiate. It certainly makes sense but we haven´tagreed to that yet.” -APP/AFP
