JERUSALEM/ISLAMABAD, April 16 (Reuters) – Optimism grew on Thursday that the war in Iran may be nearing an end, with a key Pakistani mediator having made a breakthrough on ‘sensitive issues’, a source said, although Iran warned that the fate of its nuclear program had not been resolved.
The United States and Pakistan have been pushing prospects for a settlement in the more than six-week conflict, with US President Donald Trump saying the agreement would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass.
The closure of the strait triggered the worst oil price shock in history and forced the International Monetary Fund to downgrade its outlook for the global economy, warning that a prolonged conflict could push the world to the brink of recession.
Pakistani Army chief and key figure in mediation, Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to try to avoid a renewal of the conflict, after marathon negotiations held in Islamabad last weekend ended without agreement.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday that the trip had raised hopes for a second round of talks and an extension of the two-week ceasefire, but said fundamental differences remained over the nuclear program.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that both sides are willing to resume talks, although no date has been set yet.
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LEBANON Ceasefire on agenda
The issue of a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has been waging a parallel campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, would also be an essential component of any peace talks, Pakistan said.
Israel’s cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss a possible ceasefire in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said, while Trump announced that the leaders of the two countries would speak for the first time in decades.
Two senior Lebanese officials said they had been informed that efforts were underway for a ceasefire, but had no further details on how long it would last or when it would be announced.
‘It’s been a long time since the two leaders spoke to each other, around 34 years. This will happen tomorrow. Great!’ Trump wrote in a social media post published before midnight Wednesday Washington time.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Gila Gamliel, a member of Israel’s security cabinet, told Israel Army Radio on Thursday.
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A Lebanese official told Reuters that the Lebanese government had ‘no information’ about any future contact with Israel’s leadership.
Stock markets have staged a strong rally in recent days based on expectations of a quick resolution of the conflicts, with global stocks surpassing their previous all-time highs in Asian trade on Thursday. Wall Street indices hit record highs on Wednesday as oil prices stabilized.
