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Pakistan and Egypt’s top diplomats spoke for the second time in 24 hours on Sunday, discussing regional developments ahead of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.
During a phone call, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty reviewed progress toward a potential understanding between Washington and Tehran.
“They expressed hope that these positive developments would contribute to lasting peace, security and stability across the region,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Pakistan, which mediated a ceasefire in the US-Israeli war with Iran in April, has maintained regular consultations with regional and international partners in an effort to secure a permanent end to the conflict.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that a deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz would be “open to all.”
Iran, however, said the signing of a memorandum of understanding would not take place on Sunday and could instead occur in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a source familiar with the matter said Iran’s final decision on the proposed agreement remains under consideration.
“Iran has not yet announced its final decision on the proposed memorandum of understanding,” the source told Fars News Agency.
“The review of the political, legal and technical dimensions of the proposals is still ongoing,” the source added.
According to Fars, various aspects of the proposed deal are being examined at both expert and decision-making levels.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, also said the agreement could be finalized within the next 24 hours.
The Pakistan-mediated diplomatic process has focused on ending hostilities between Tehran and Washington, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic and reaching a consensus on Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said that much of the proposed text has already been agreed upon while accusing the United States of slowing progress through shifting positions and contradictory statements.
The region has remained on edge since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in late February, prompting Iranian retaliation against Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets, as well as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
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