Pakistan Says US and Iran Nearing Deal Despite New Shipping Attacks

Pakistan and Qatar, the two main mediators in the US-Iran conflict, said Tuesday that Washington and Tehran are close to some form of agreement, offering renewed hope for ending the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan’s defense minister said signals over the past few days suggest talks are shaping up favorably, while Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that separate discussions between Oman and Iran over managing the strait have reached an advanced stage. This came just a day after prospects appeared to dim following fresh demands from both sides.

Trump Seeks Reparations as Iran Maintains Conditions

Despite the mediators’ optimism, President Trump added new friction Monday night, saying the US would seek compensation from Iran covering 50 years of damage, including deaths among civilian demonstrators and US forces in the region. Iran reiterated that reopening the strait depends on Washington meeting conditions largely tied to an earlier June agreement, including compensation, an end to sanctions, and a halt to military threats. Iran’s foreign minister said there are still no direct talks with Washington, with messages passing only through intermediaries.

Violence Continues Despite Diplomatic Progress

Even as diplomatic signals improved, new attacks on shipping were reported in the region. Four crew members were reportedly killed in a suspected Houthi strike on a cargo vessel in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, marking what would be the first such fatalities since the war began. A separate container ship was also hit by a missile in the Gulf of Oman in a suspected US strike after its crew ignored blockade warnings. Oil prices eased slightly Tuesday after touching a one-week high, though they remain well above pre-war levels, as Trump faces mounting political pressure to end a conflict that polls show is unpopular ahead of the midterm elections.