Pakistan: Iran Seeks to Reduce Tensions

Qureshi discussed Iran and the peace process in Afghanistan with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo in Washington, 5 days after his meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

While Qureshi declined to disclose if he had conveyed any messages, he said he understood that the Iranians "do not want to escalate matters."

"They do not want war, they do not want more bloodshed," he told reporters in Washington.

On January 3, the United States launched a terrorist operation during which it assassinated the martyr General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, deputy to the Popular Mobilization Forces.

Iran retaliated with missile attacks on American forces in Iraq, wounding 11 American soldiers.