Fast-paced developments

AS fears grow about resumption of the US-Iran war, fast-paced developments are taking place on different fronts to reach a negotiated solution to the crisis. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Iran has received a new proposal from the United States, which is under consideration. In a related development, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday arrived in Tehran for second important visit within 24 hours and held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Iran-US negotiations and regional stability. It is encouraging to note that behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts of Pakistan to help the two sides sort out differences are reportedly bearing fruits as some reports in international media claim about finalization of a draft agreement with possibility of another round of direct talks between Washington and Tehran after Eidul Azha. A spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the presence of the Pakistani Interior Minister was aimed at facilitating exchange of messages between the two countries. According to US news website Axios, a revised peace memo was drafted by Qatar and Pakistan with input from the other regional mediators to try to bridge the gaps between the US and Iran. Pakistan, Qatar and the other mediators — Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt — have been working over the last several days to refine the proposal to bridge the gaps. President Donald Trump has also confirmed that negotiations with Iran were in the final stages, while warning of further attacks unless Iran agrees to a deal. However, as usual, Trump has given conflicting signals since announcing on Monday that he had called off renewed attacks to give time for negotiations, veering between optimism about an agreement and threats of more action. It is clear that progress is being made in the diplomatic process but sincere efforts of the mediators are threatened by actions and conspiracies of the Jewish state. It has been reported that US President Donal