ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has mediated between Iran and the United States, said on Saturday that a peace deal to end their war would “likely” be finalized within 24 hours, adding that Pakistan was preparing to electronically sign the document.
The statement came a day after Islamabad it was working with both governments to finalize the next steps toward ending the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, which began in late Feb.
“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” Sharif said in a post on X. “With finalization likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week.”
After weeks of stalled negotiations on the terms for an initial memorandum of understanding, both Washington and Tehran have signalled in recent days they were nearing an agreement.
Tensions, however, persisted as the United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB also quoted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying that until a complete agreement was reached on all issues, “it cannot be said with certainty that an understanding has been achieved with the United States.”
Pakistan has been pushing both nations to come to an agreement after a fragile ceasefire was struck in April and Islamabad hosted talks between the warring sides which ended with no deal to resolve the conflict.
Sharif thanked both Washington and Iran for their “ongoing commitment during the negotiations” as well as regional leaders for their support to Pakistan’s mediation efforts.
“We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace,” he said.
— With input from wire services.
