The US and Iran are continuing talks following a fruitless meeting in Islamabad
The United States and Iran are continuing negotiations in an attempt to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict. This was stated by a US official, who noted that dialogue between the parties is ongoing and that progress is being made towards reaching an agreement, according to Reuters.
The statement came after lengthy talks in Pakistan on Saturday between delegations from Washington and Tehran, which failed to produce a breakthrough. It is currently unclear whether there will be a further face-to-face meeting between the parties.
The talks in Islamabad marked the first direct meeting between US and Iranian representatives in over a decade and the highest level of contact since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The talks took place at the Serena Hotel, where the delegations were housed in separate areas and also took part in trilateral meetings involving Pakistani mediators.
Key issues included the Strait of Hormuz, through which significant volumes of global energy supplies pass, Iran’s nuclear programme and international sanctions against Tehran.
According to sources, the parties were close to reaching an agreement and were about 80 per cent of the way there, but were unable to agree on certain decisions. The atmosphere of the talks is described as tense, although at a certain stage the situation improved somewhat and the possibility of extending the talks by another day was considered.
Among the main points of disagreement remained the issues of Iran’s nuclear programme, the regime governing the Strait of Hormuz, and Tehran’s access to frozen assets. The US side insisted on Iran’s complete abandonment of uranium enrichment and the dismantling of the relevant infrastructure, whilst the Iranian delegation demanded guarantees of a ceasefire, the lifting of sanctions and the preservation of control over the Strait.
Following the conclusion of the talks in Pakistan, contacts between the parties have not ceased. According to sources, intermediaries continue to pass messages between Washington and Tehran.
US President Donald Trump stated that Iran had approached the American administration and was seeking to reach an agreement. At the same time, White House spokesperson Olivia Vales emphasised that the US position remains unchanged, particularly regarding preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that efforts to resolve the situation are ongoing.
Despite their differences, both sides have grounds to consider the possibility of de-escalation. The talks took place following the announced ceasefire, which halted a six-week conflict that led to significant loss of life and affected global energy markets.
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