Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the United States and Iran are close to reaching a deal, according to a recent interview with Bloomberg News. Asif mentioned that signals in the last few days indicate a potential arrangement between the two nations.
Background
The conflict between the US and Iran has resulted in thousands of deaths, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, since the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran has retaliated by striking US assets and infrastructure in several countries, including Oman, Jordan, Kuwait, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Tehran on Tuesday, although no further details were provided. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that separate discussions between Oman and Iran regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz are at an advanced stage.
Recent Attacks
Despite signs of progress in diplomacy, there have been reports of new attacks on shipping in the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea. Four crew members were killed in a suspected attack by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on a small cargo vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Tuesday.
A container ship was also hit by a missile off Pakistan while sailing through the Gulf of Oman in a suspected US attack. The US first announced a blockade of shipping trying to reach Iran’s ports in April and reimposed it in July after the June peace accord crumbled.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
