Trump says Iran war “close to over” as Pakistan pushes for new peace talks
U.S. officials told CBS News on Wednesday that negotiations on extending the current two-week ceasefire with Iran, which is set to expire on Tuesday, were ongoing, but there was no agreement yet on the terms.
“The United States has not formally agreed to an extension of the ceasefire,” a senior American official said on Wednesday. “There is continued engagement between the United States and Iran to reach an agreement.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged Wednesday that the regime was engaged in indirect communications with the United States, but said the goal was a complete end to the war and the lifting of sanctions against Tehran.
President Trump expressed optimism that a new round of direct talks could soon result in a final agreement to end the war.
“Regarding the talks and negotiations, the exchange of messages continues,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said Wednesday in remarks broadcast by Iranian state television. “Since Sunday, when the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran, multiple messages have been exchanged through a Pakistani intermediary.”
Baqaei said Iran’s “positions are very clear” and that the ongoing diplomacy, according to Tehran, “aims at a complete cessation of the war and the restoration of Iran’s rights, including not only the lifting of sanctions but also compensation for the damage inflicted on Iran during the war imposed by the United States and the Israeli regime.”
Baqaei said Iran would “likely host a Pakistani delegation” on Wednesday “as a follow-up to the discussions that took place in Islamabad and the talks that the Pakistani side had with the United States; our positions have been heard and transmitted.”
