Iran, US narrow differences after Pakistani mediation but splits remain, senior Iranian official says
DUBAI, April 16 (Reuters) – Iran and the United States have made some progress as they push for a deal under Pakistan’s mediation, a senior Iranian official said on Thursday, but more than halfway through a two-week ceasefire, major divisions remain, including over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“Pakistan’s army chief’s visit to Tehran was effective in reducing differences in some areas, but fundamental disagreements in the nuclear field still remain… More hope has been created for the ceasefire to be extended and a second round of talks to be held,” the senior official said.
“The fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and the duration of Iran’s nuclear restrictions are among the highly controversial issues for which no solution has yet been found.”
Advertising
Advertising
Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran on Wednesday in a bid to prevent a revival of the conflict. Pakistan hosted the first peace talks of the war last weekend.
A Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday that no date has been set for the second round of talks between the United States and Iran.
Iran and the United States failed to reach an agreement last weekend on ending the war, which US President Donald Trump launched on February 28 with a surprise attack on Israel’s side, causing Iran to open fire on Gulf countries and sparking a parallel conflict in Lebanon.
(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by Peter Graff)
