US and Iran Near Temporary Truce, Pakistan-Brokered Ceasefire Holds
Pakistani officials claim the United States and Iran are close to a temporary agreement to halt the Middle East war, with a potential interim deal by the weekend. The ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8 has largely ceased hostilities after over two months of conflict. Direct talks in Islamabad on April 11-12 ended without an agreement but without a breakdown.
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Latest briefings float hope of basic deal that would keep peace and free shipping while further negotiations continue Middle East crisis – live updates The US and Iran are close to a temporary agreement to halt the war in the Middle East, officials in Pakistan claimed on Thursday, as diplomatic activity gathered fresh momentum after a near breakdown of the current ceasefire earlier this week. Officials on Islamabad said a very basic “interim” deal could be reached as early as this weekend and that Tehran was reviewing a US proposal. Continue reading...
Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Islamabad was hopeful about an agreement between the US and Iran and was expecting it to happen soon. He said while responding to a question during a weekly FO briefing, adding that Pakistan would welcome a settlement between Iran and the US wherever it may be reached. “If an agreement is reached in Pakistan, it would be an honour for us,” he said. The FO spokesperson also said he could not say whether the draft of the agreement would be one page or longer. Andrabi’s remarks came after the US and Iran seemed to inch toward a peace deal on Wednesday. There were reports that Tehran was reviewing a fresh proposal from Washington for a peace following the suspension of ‘Project Freedom’ launched by the US to open the Strait of Hormuz. The latest episode of hostilities between the two sides began with more than two months ago when the US and Israel launched strikes in Iran on February 28. While a deal for a complete end to the war is yet to happen, the hostilities have been largely ceased since a the two sides agreed on a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire on April 8. Following the ceasefire, a first round of historic direct US-Iran talks was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, with Pakistan playing the role of a mediator. The talks had ended without an agreement, but also without a breakdown. With challenges in convening a second round, Islamabad has shifted back to its role as a facilitator and go-between. More to follow