Islamabad:Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir left for Tehran on Friday amid reports that peace deal between the United States (US) and Iran has been , according to Iranian state media reports. Munir is expected to meet the top Iranian leadership in Tehran including Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Munir was to fly to Tehran Thursday, but the trip has been delayed. In various media reports Munir was waiting for a go-ahead signal from Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi who is in Tehran since Wednesday and holding talks with Iranian leadership over a possible deal to the end conflict in Middle East that started on February 28.
Naqvi, in Tehran on an unannounced visit, had met for the second time in less than 24 hours earlier in the day with Araghchi to talk in detail about the proposal for long-term peace and stability in the region. Pakistan has been pushing for a ceasefire between the US and Iran and if the proposal is accepted by both sides then the next round of talks could be held again in Islamabad.
What does the proposal say?The proposal calls for an immediate and complete ceasefire on all fronts, state-run Iranian media, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), reported. It includes a proposal that the two sides will not attack each other's military and civilian infrastructure, other than respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The draft framework also calls for unrestricted navigation in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. It also suggests a joint mechanism to follow up the implementation of the agreement. The deal also sets out a framework for a phased lifting of US sanctions if Iran agrees to the terms, reported
(Al Arabiya).
Rubio optimistic about Iran talksUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that there has been "small progress" over talks with the Islamic Republic, with reports that the peace treaty will be finalised. But he said "other options" remained on the table for the US if Iran did not accept the deal.
“There is no one in the world who supports a tolling system. It can’t happen. When asked about Iran’s plan to toll Strait of Hormuz, he told reporters it would be “unacceptable.”
“I don’t want to get ahead of it ... I think we’ve made some progress,” Rubio said about the negotiations. “But we’re obviously dealing with a system that’s a little fractured in and of itself.
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