Tehran and Washington Near Pact to Halt Fighting

Iranian officials say they are on the verge of finalizing a draft agreement with the United States that would bring an official end to the recent round of regional warfare. Speaking to state broadcaster IRIB, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei revealed that both capitals are working on a 14-point memorandum expected to serve as the foundation for a comprehensive ceasefire. The proposed document reportedly includes clauses that would prevent further American naval actions against Iranian interests and guarantee the return of Tehran’s seized financial assets. Nuclear negotiations are deliberately being kept off the agenda for now. Baghaei emphasized that the immediate goal is to lock in conditions that would stop all active fighting across every theater, including Lebanon. Pakistan’s role as intermediary has been crucial. A delegation led by army chief General Asim Munir arrived in Tehran last week carrying the latest American proposals. Sources close to the talks say Islamabad is expected to host another round of indirect discussions within days. If the draft MOU is approved, a 30-to-60-day window will open for converting the framework into a binding treaty. The current diplomatic push follows a 40-day conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iranian positions in late February and ended with a shaky ceasefire on April 8. Subsequent meetings in Islamabad on April 11 and 12 did not yield a final deal, but the exchange of written proposals has continued.