Tehran, Iran. Iran, the United States and Pakistan all said on Saturday that progress had been made in talks aimed at ending nearly three months of war. Iran said it was focused on finalising a memorandum of understanding after senior officials met Pakistan’s army chief.
Talks in Tehran
Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, the Iranian foreign ministry said. Munir also met President Masoud Pezeshkian before leaving Tehran, Iranian state media reported. The Pakistani army said negotiations over the previous 24 hours had resulted in “encouraging” progress towards a final understanding.
US comments on progress
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting India, also said some progress had been made on Iran and that the U.S. might have “something to say” on the issue in the coming days. “There’s been some progress done, some progress made, even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done. There is a chance that, whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple days, we may have something to say,” Rubio told reporters in New Delhi.
Iran’s response
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said: “The trend this week has been towards a reduction in disputes, but there are still issues that need to be discussed through mediators. We will have to wait and see where the situation ends in the next three or four days.”
Mediation effort
Pakistan’s mediation push aims to narrow differences between Iran and the U.S. after weeks of war that have left the Strait of Hormuz closed to most shipping despite a nervous ceasefire, disrupting global energy markets. The talks reportedly centred on a 14-point document proposed by Iran, which it considers the main framework for the discussions, and messages exchanged between the two sides.
Outstanding issues
Baghaei said the issue of the U.S. blockade on Iran’s shipping was important, but that its priority was ending the threat of new U.S. attacks and the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, where Iran-allied Hezbollah militants are fighting Israeli troops who have moved into the south.
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