Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Singapore following Washington’s move to sanction Turkey’s two ministers over the detention of a US pastor.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday said he told his US counterpart Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that threats and sanctions would not work after Washington targeted Turkish ministers over the detention of an American pastor.

“We have said from the start that the other side’s threatening language and sanctions will not get any result. We repeated this today,” Cavusoglu told reporters in Singapore after their meeting.

Cavusgolu and Pompeo met on the sidelines of a meeting of regional ministers in Singapore. Their talks came after Washington imposed sanctions on two of Turkey’s ministers over the trial of a US pastor Andrew Craig Brunson accused of backing terrorism.

Turkey has said the sanctions were unacceptable. Cavusoglu, however, said both the countries have agreed to work together. “There might be problems between countries and there will be also dissidence. However, Turkey always wishes to solve these issues via diplomacy, dialogue and mutual understanding,” he added.

He added both ministers agreed to work in close co-operation and continue the dialogue. “Since the beginning we said that a solution cannot be reached by using threatening language and sanctions,” the minister added.