ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday credited Pakistan and Qatar for helping secure a peace deal between the United States and Iran, backing an agreement that is set to enter a new phase of negotiations this week as the two sides prepare to discuss a permanent settlement to months of conflict.
The Saudi endorsement came as the Kingdom’s cabinet welcomed the agreement between Washington and Tehran to end military operations and begin detailed negotiations aimed at a long-term accord.
The deal, which follows months of fighting triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, has raised hopes of a broader regional de-escalation, with Iranian oil exports beginning to resume and shipping gradually returning to the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Cabinet welcomed the agreement reached between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran to end military operations and begin detailed negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent agreement, and expressed appreciation for the mediation efforts undertaken by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the State of Qatar in this regard,” the Saudi Press Agency said in a social media post after a cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The cabinet said it looked forward to peace being achieved in a manner that restores freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy supplies, as it existed before the outbreak of the war.
Hours after the comments, shipping trackers reported that the first tankers carrying Iranian crude oil had exited the US naval blockade zone around the waterway, while oil prices continued to fall amid expectations of easing supply disruptions.
The United States and Iran are expected to begin negotiations on a final settlement on Friday in Switzerland, with discussions set to focus on Tehran’s nuclear program and the possible easing of international sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said decisions on nuclear issues and sanctions relief would be taken during the talks.
The text of the accord between the two countries is yet to be released publicly, and questions persist over several regional issues linked to the conflict.
Araghchi said on Tuesday that a lasting end to the war would require Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting the broader regional tensions that continue to shadow the diplomatic process.
Pakistani defense officials said on Tuesday there could have been “conflict within the Muslim world” if Islamabad had not helped broker the understanding between the US and Iran.
They noted Pakistan’s sole objective was to ensure the success of the negotiations, adding that it had conducted the mediation effort quietly because it did not want to engage in “headline diplomacy” or seek media attention.
