Pakistan, Egypt hold second call on US-Iran deal prospects

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty held a second telephone conversation within 24 hours on Sunday to discuss regional developments ahead of a potential agreement between Washington and Tehran, Islamabad's Foreign Ministry said.

Diplomatic Coordination

During the call, the two diplomats reviewed progress toward a possible understanding between the United States and Iran. "They expressed hope that these positive developments would contribute to lasting peace, security, and stability across the region," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Pakistan mediated a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war on Iran in April and has maintained regular consultations to secure a permanent end to the conflict.

Contradictory Timelines

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that a deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday, adding that the Strait of Hormuz would be "open to all." Iranian officials quickly countered that a memorandum of understanding would not be signed on Sunday, though an agreement may materialize in the coming days.

The region has remained tense since Washington and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran in late February, prompting Iranian retaliation against Israel and other regional countries hosting US military assets. The Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's key energy chokepoints — has been closed since the outbreak of hostilities, disrupting global oil shipments.