AGENCIES

The United States and Pakistan, a key mediator in the Middle East war, expressed new hope of talks leading to a peace deal with Iran yesterday, after sources said Washington and Tehran were closing in on a one-page memorandum to end the war in the Gulf.

An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, cited by Iran’s ISNA news agency, said Iran would convey its response soon via Pakistan.

Adding more hope, President Donald Trump halted a plan to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

In an early morning social media post, Trump gave no details of any specific proposal but said the war could end if “Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to”. He later told the New York Post it was still too soon to consider face-to-face meetings to sign an agreement.

Late yesterday, he said that a deal with Iran was “very possible” following “very good talks” over the past day.

“We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll In its

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