General Asim Munir, who is playing a pivotal mediation role, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday to prevent the renewal of conflict following marathon talks held in Islamabad early this week that failed to yield an agreement.
A senior Iranian official said on Thursday that the visit has increased hopes for a second round of negotiations and extending the agreed-upon ceasefire, which was initially set to last two weeks, but noted that fundamental disagreements persist regarding the nuclear program.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday that both sides are prepared to resume talks, though no specific date has been set. Islamabad clarified that the issue of the ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel is conducting a campaign against Hezbollah, will also be a primary subject in any peace discussions.
An Israeli Security Cabinet member announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for the first time in decades. Two senior Lebanese officials confirmed that efforts to reach a ceasefire are underway, but they lack details regarding its duration or the timing of the announcement.
As more than half of the two-week ceasefire period has elapsed, a senior Iranian official indicated that nuclear program issues remain unresolved. Another source reported that Iran has agreed to reduce the level of high-enriched uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States.
