Meanwhile, US-allied countries meet this Friday (17) to discuss the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump said a deal to end the war in Iran could be achieved soonalthough the timing remains uncertain, as US allies met this Friday (17) to discuss the reopening of vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
Trump said a two-week ceasefire, which ends next week, could be extendedalthough he does not believe this would be necessary as Tehran wants a deal.
“We’ll see what happens. But I think we’re very close to making a deal with Iran,” he told reporters, adding that if a deal is reached and signed in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, he could go there for the occasion.
In Islamabad, the site of last weekend’s talks, troops were seen along the routes leading to the capital on Friday, but the roads were still open and the government had not issued orders for businesses to close, as happened before the last meeting.
The Israeli-American attack on Iran began in February 28, killed thousands of people e destabilized the Middle East. The conflict also practically closed the Strait of Hormuzwhere it passes one fifth of the oil e of the world’s liquefied natural gasthreatening the worst oil shock in history.
The International Monetary Fund and warned that the global economy runs the risk of entering a recession if the conflict continues.
Restoration of freedom of navigation
France and the United Kingdom will chair a meeting this Friday with around 40 countries with the aim of signaling to the US that some of its closest allies are ready to help restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but only when hostilities cease.
Trump called on other countries to get involved in the war and criticized NATO allies for not doing so.
According to a note sent to the invited nations, the objective of the meeting is reaffirm full diplomatic support for unrestricted freedom of navigation through the waterway and need to respect international law.
O Iran has largely closed the strait for ships other than their own, while Washington this week imposed a blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Only a small number of ships have passed through the strait since the start of the war, compared with an average of more than 130 per day before the conflict.
Optimism that a deal could be close has fueled a strong share recovery this week, with global markets holding near record highs on Friday while benchmark oil prices were held below US$100 per barrel.
*With information from Reuters
