Optimism grew on Thursday that the Middle East war may be coming to an end, as a key Pakistani mediator is in Tehran and the Donald Trump administration raised hopes of a deal to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
“They are trying to create a space for maneuver between Israel and Lebanon,” wrote Donald Trump on his network, Truth Social.
“It's been a long time since the two leaders last spoke, like 34 years. The meeting will take place tomorrow (Thursday). Great!” he added in the message posted before midnight on Wednesday in Washington, Thursday morning in Europe.
A truce is expected over Israel's attacks in Lebanon
Israel's cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss a possible truce in neighboring Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said, more than six weeks after the war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group began.
According to Lebanese officials, a ceasefire could be announced soon, the Financial Times wrote.
An end to fighting in Lebanon has been a key sticking point in previous peace talks, along with how to resolve Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
White House: “We are confident in the prospects of an agreement”
US and Iranian officials were considering returning to Pakistan for further talks as early as next weekend after talks ended on Sunday without significant progress.
Pakistan's army chief, a key figure in the negotiations, Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to try to prevent a rekindling of the conflict.
“We are confident in the prospects for an agreement,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told a news conference on Wednesday, calling Pakistan-mediated talks “productive and ongoing.”
She denied reports that the US had formally requested an extension to the two-week truce agreed by the two sides on April 8.
No further face-to-face talks have yet been confirmed, but they would likely take place again in Pakistan, Leavitt said.
Stock markets have rallied strongly in recent days on hopes of a quick resolution to the conflict, and Wall Street indexes hit record highs on Wednesday amid stabilizing oil prices.
Iran may consider allowing ships to sail freely through the Omani side of the Strait of Hormuz without risk of attack as part of proposals it has put forward in negotiations with the United States if a deal is reached to prevent a flare-up of conflict, a Reuters source said on Wednesday.
