US-Iran Negotiations Near Completion

Negotiations between the United States and Iran have entered the final stage, Al-Hadath television reported on Thursday (6/8), citing a senior official. “Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran through mediators have entered the final stage,” the source said, as quoted by Al-Hadath. The source also stated that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to visit Pakistan at the end of this week or early next week. On Wednesday, a senior Pakistani source told RIA Novosti that Araghchi was scheduled to visit Pakistan on 7 August. During the visit, he will be received by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. On 10 July, at the start of the renewed escalation of conflict between the US and Iran, Sharif expressed Islamabad’s readiness to continue acting as a mediator between the two countries. Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum on 18 June to end the conflict that began on 28 February. However, on 8 July, US President Donald Trump declared that the ceasefire was no longer in effect. Since then, US forces have launched several attacks against Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated the attacks were a response to Iranian actions against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian forces retaliated by launching attacks on several US military bases in the Middle East.