Asif signals possible US-Iran deal amid Hormuz talks
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the United States and Iran may be moving closer to an agreement as diplomatic efforts continue to resolve the conflict and ease restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Asif said recent developments had created renewed hopes for a possible peace arrangement. He said signals over the past two to three days suggested that Washington and Tehran were approaching “some sort of an arrangement.”
His comments came as Qatar said separate discussions between Oman and Iran regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz had reached an advanced stage.
The waterway remains at the centre of the crisis. It is a major route for global energy supplies, with a significant share of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it.
Pakistan and Qatar have been involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the United States. Pakistan has continued contacts with Iranian officials as part of these mediation efforts.
On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Tehran. Details of their discussion were not immediately disclosed, but the meeting came amid renewed diplomatic activity over the conflict.
Iran has previously said it was working with Oman on arrangements for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has maintained that reopening the waterway fully would depend on the United States meeting several conditions.
Those demands include compensation, an easing of sanctions and guarantees against further military action, according to Iranian officials.
Araghchi has said Iran and the US are not holding direct negotiations. Messages are instead being exchanged through intermediaries.
US President Donald Trump has also raised the issue of compensation. He said Washington would seek payments from Iran for damage and casualties allegedly caused over several decades.
Despite the diplomatic activity, tensions remain high in regional waters.
Four crew members were reportedly killed in a suspected attack on a cargo vessel near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The incident was blamed on Houthi forces, although the group had not immediately claimed responsibility.
A separate container ship was also reportedly struck while sailing through the Gulf of Oman near Pakistan. Initial reports indicated that the incident may have involved US military action.
The developments have increased concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region.
Oil prices also remained elevated because of uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Prices eased on Tuesday after reaching a one-week high earlier in the session as investors responded to signs of possible diplomatic progress.
The crisis has placed pressure on Washington and Tehran to find a political solution. Any agreement that reduces tensions and restores normal shipping through Hormuz could have a major impact on global energy markets.
