US negotiators could return to Islamabad for crucial talks
American negotiators could return to Islamabad this week for decisive negotiations. Pakistan is maneuvering to facilitate them.
Statements like wildfire in markets. Donald Trump late on Tuesday night declared that the war with Iran was “almost over,” after hinting at a possible resumption of discussions with Iran this week in Pakistan.
“I think it’s almost over,” said the American president in the evening on Fox News, stating that Iranian authorities “really want to reach an agreement.”
Donald Trump also mentioned a possible resumption of discussions with Iran as early as this week in Pakistan. “Something could happen in the next two days,” he told a journalist from the New York Post.
A first round of discussions failed
As a reminder, last weekend, a first round of talks with US Vice President JD Vance failed, without leading to a ceasefire breach in effect since April 8. However, Washington strengthened pressure on Tehran on Monday by implementing a blockade on transit to and from Iranian ports.
In this new power play, American negotiators could once again travel to Islamabad this week for negotiations, according to Donald Trump, who praised the “great job” of mediation done by the Chief of the Pakistani Army, Asim Munir, to the New York Post.
Pakistan in action
Two high-ranking Pakistani sources confirmed to AFP that Islamabad was seeking to restart talks. On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the resumption of “serious negotiations.” “There is no military solution to this crisis,” he insisted.
Despite the impact of the double blockade – Iranian and American – on the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil and LNG normally transit, markets seem to believe in a way out of the conflict: oil continued to fall below $95 a barrel on Wednesday after a significant drop on Tuesday.
Received by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov assured that Moscow was ready to “compensate” the energy deficit suffered by China and other countries due to the war.
