A version of this story appeared in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times.
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Pakistan said Thursday it expects the U.S. and Iran to strike a deal to end the war “sooner rather than later,” as President Trump threatens further military action if Washington’s demands are not accepted.
Tahir Andrabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, said he remains hopeful that the U.S. and Iran will strike a deal in the near future and that Tehran’s consideration of Washington’s latest proposal is a good sign.
“We hope the parties will reach a peaceful and sustainable solution that will contribute not only to peace in our region but to international peace as well,” Mr. Andrabi said. “What I can tell you, and this is what I have stated before, is that we remain positive, we remain optimistic, and we hope the settlement will be soon rather than later.”
He refused to provide a timeline for when Iran would deliver its response through Pakistani mediators, though some reports suggest that it could be as early as Thursday.
Iran’s response could determine the fate of the ceasefire between the U.S. and the Islamic republic, already under strain by two competing blockades of the Strait of Hormuz.
Mr. Trump promised Wednesday to resume a bombing campaign against Iran if Tehran does not accept the terms of the proposal sent to Iranian officials this week. The proposal’s details have not been made public.
SEE ALSO: Iran weighs new U.S. ceasefire-negotiation proposal amid Trump threats to restart bombing campaign
The U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran on Feb. 28 to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi as the foreign minister.
