Washington, DC – In a significant diplomatic development reflecting the complexity of the military and political landscape, a senior US official confirmed that the United States has not yet given its formal approval for extending the ceasefire agreement with Iran. However, diplomatic channels between the two sides remain open.
American reservations and ongoing communication
Reuters quoted the US official as saying that the US administration is still considering its options under the current circumstances. He also noted that “there is ongoing and active communication between Washington and Tehran aimed at trying to reach a sustainable agreement.” However, he did not provide further details about the points of contention that have so far prevented a formal announcement of the extension.
Pakistani mediation and bridging the gap between viewpoints
On the other hand, and in a sign of the pivotal role played by regional mediation, Tehran announced that the pace of indirect talks with the American side has not stopped. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated during his weekly press conference that diplomatic exchanges through the Pakistani mediator continued intensively following the negotiations hosted by Islamabad last weekend.
Exchange of messages and anticipated visits
Baqaei explained that the Iranian delegation, which returned to Tehran last Sunday, engaged in an exchange of messages with the American side through Pakistani channels. He also confirmed that the negotiation process is at a critical stage of finalizing discussions.
The Iranian spokesperson added, “It is very likely that we will receive a high-level Pakistani delegation in Tehran today, a step that comes as a continuation of the in-depth deliberations that took place in the Pakistani capital, and to build upon the initial understandings reached.”
Regional anticipation surrounds the fate of the truce.
These accelerated diplomatic moves come at a time when the region is anxiously awaiting the fate of the truce. Regional and international powers are striving to prevent the confrontation from escalating to more dangerous levels.
Moreover, Pakistani mediation is currently seen as one of the most important remaining avenues for bridging the gaps, given the lack of official US recognition of the extension of the cessation of hostilities. This has placed the region in a state of cautious anticipation, awaiting the outcome of the upcoming meetings in Tehran with the Pakistani delegation, which could significantly determine the course of de-escalation in the coming days.
