AGENCIES

US President Donald Trump yesterday announced that Lebanon and Israel had agreed on a 10-day ceasefire and said the next meeting between the United States and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war may be nearing an end.

Though there was no indication whether Iran-backed Hezbollah was on board.

Meanwhile, a key Pakistani mediator said US and Iranian officials are close to a breakthrough on “sticky issues”. However, Iran warned that the fate of its nuclear programme remains unresolved.

Two Iranian sources told Reuters that US and Iranian negotiators have scaled back ambitions for a comprehensive peace deal and are instead seeking a temporary memorandum to prevent a return to conflict.

A senior Iranian official said the two sides had started to narrow some gaps, including over how to manage the Strait of Hormuz.

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