ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) 鈥� The United States and Iran are close to agreeing on a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending , two regional officials and a diplomat said Saturday, as the United States has weighed a new round of attacks on the Islamic Republic.
Iran signaled 鈥渘arrowing differences鈥� in with the U.S. after Pakistan鈥檚 army chief held more talks in Tehran, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in India that 鈥渢here鈥檚 been some progress made” and 鈥渢here may be news later today.鈥�
The officials and diplomat expressed hope that a final decision on the Pakistan-prepared draft could come within 48 hours as both sides review it. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
They said Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner played significant roles in helping bridge remaining gaps, and that Qatar played a key role by sending a senior official to Tehran to support Pakistan鈥檚 mediation efforts.
Still, both Iran and the U.S. emphasized their key positions and have warned of the risks of resuming attacks.
Iran describes it as a 鈥榝ramework agreement’ for more talks
Iran state TV quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as describing the draft as a 鈥渇ramework agreement” and adding: 鈥淲e want this to include the main issues required for ending the imposed war and other issues of essential importance to us. Then, over a reasonable time span, between 30 to 60 days, details are discussed and ultimately a final agreement is reached.鈥�
He said the Strait of Hormuz is among the topics discussed.
Positions have moved closer in recent days, Iran鈥檚 official IRNA news agency quoted Baghaei as saying.
鈥淥ver the past week, the trend has been toward narrowing differences,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e will have to wait and see what happens over the next three or four days.鈥�
Baghaei said nuclear issues are not part of the current negotiations, as Tehran first seeks to end the war before discussing its that has long been at the heart of international tensions.
鈥淥ur focus at this stage is on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,鈥� Baghaei said, adding that lifting sanctions on Tehran 鈥渉as explicitly been included in the text and remains our fixed position.鈥�
Rubio, in New Delhi, said that “even as I speak to you now there is some work being done. There is a chance that whether it鈥檚 later today, tomorrow, in a couple days we may have something to say.鈥�
Rubio repeated the U.S. stance that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and must turn over its highly enriched uranium, and the Strait of Hormuz must be open.
Iran has rebuilt after weeks of war and then a fragile ceasefire, parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said after the meeting with Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, state TV reported.
Qalibaf, the lead negotiator in with the U.S. last month, also said the result would be 鈥渕ore crushing and more bitter鈥� than at the start of the war if U.S. President Donald Trump resumes attacks.
Trump had said 鈥榮erious negotiations鈥� were underway
Trump earlier said he was on a military strike against Iran because 鈥渟erious negotiations鈥� were underway, and at the request of allies in the Middle East. Trump has for Tehran and then backed off.
The U.S. and Israel sparked the war with attacks on Feb. 28, cutting short talks with Iran. Tehran retaliated by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the region鈥檚 oil, natural gas and fertilizer, causing global economic pain.
The U.S. then Iranian ports, and the U.S. Central Command on Saturday said U.S. forces had turned away more than 100 commercial vessels and disabled four since the blockade began April 13.
On his visit to Tehran, Pakistan鈥檚 army chief also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials, the two officials said, adding that Islamabad continues efforts to arrange a second round of direct negotiations.
It was not clear whether Munir met with , who heads Iran鈥檚 paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, has become a major player in formulating in talks.
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Lee reported from Washington.
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