Tehran to Discuss Thursday with Pakistani Delegation the Messages Exchanged with Washington

SadaNews - The discussion session held between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Pakistani delegation led by the army chief has concluded, while Tehran will discuss on Thursday with the delegation a series of messages exchanged between Iran and the United States, as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts, according to Iranian television.

Earlier on Wednesday evening, a high-level Pakistani delegation led by the army chief arrived in Tehran to convey a message from the United States and plan for a second round of negotiations after the first round stalled in Islamabad without reaching an agreement between the two countries following a ceasefire between them last Wednesday, April 8.

The American newspaper "Wall Street Journal" reported that the United States and Iran have agreed in principle to meet, but they have not yet set a time and place. Meanwhile, the "Associated Press" reported earlier on Wednesday that mediators were close to extending the ceasefire agreement between the two parties and resuming negotiations to save the fragile truce before it expires next week, quoting regional officials who said they were making progress, and that the United States and Iran had tentatively agreed to extend it to allow for more diplomacy.

Mediators are pushing for a compromise on three main contentious points that derailed direct negotiations in the Pakistani capital Islamabad last week, namely the Iranian nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, and compensation for damages incurred during the war; according to one of the regional officials involved in mediation efforts.

This comes as the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced sending around 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East in the coming days, aimed at "pressuring Iran to reach an agreement," according to U.S. officials who stated that "the forces are estimated to be around 6,000 troops on an aircraft carrier and accompanying ships, and about 4,200 troops from the Boxer Amphibious Group and Marines are expected to arrive by the end of the month"; according to what was reported by the "Washington Post" on Wednesday.