ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have said they are ready for dialogue with the United States if properly communicated, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Monday.
Qureshi added that US President Donald Trump felt that Pakistan could play a role in mediation with Iran.
The Pakistani foreign minister made the remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera which will be broadcast in full on "Today's Meeting" program.
Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that President Trump and the Saudi crown prince had asked him to mediate with Iran to reduce tensions.
"Trump has asked me if we can contribute to calm the situation and perhaps reach a new agreement" with Tehran on its nuclear and ballistic programs, Khan said.
He also explained that while traveling from Islamabad to New York "he stopped in Saudi Arabia because of attacks on its oil facilities." "I spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and he also asked me to talk to the Iranian president."
"We are trying to do our best" with regard to this mediation, Khan said. "It's something that is still going on, so I can't say any more."
In another context, the Pakistani Foreign Minister said in the program "meeting today" that his country resent the UAE after Abu Dhabi awarded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Medal of Zayed, the highest civilian medal in the country.
Qureshi wondered how Moody imitated the highest Emirati award "despite the shedding of Muslim blood in the Indian state of Gujarat."