A joint de-escalation proposal by Pakistan and Qatar has urged the United States and Iran to return to their pre-July 9 positions “as a first step” to resume stalled talks to permanently end their months-long war, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu on Monday.
The proposal, jointly drafted by Islamabad and Doha after “consulting regional partners”, called on both sides to return to the positions they held before the beginning of the fresh hostilities, the sources added.
“Returning to the pre-July 9 position will be the first step to halt the raging hostilities and pave the way for the resumption of talks either in Islamabad or Doha,” a Pakistani source close to the ongoing mediation efforts said.
According to the proposal, the sources added, Iran will “immediately” reopen the Strait of Hormuz, whereas the US will end the blockade of Iranian ports and lift sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil.
The sources added that the formula also proposes a two-week ceasefire to halt the ongoing retaliatory military strikes for the resumption of stalled talks.
The sources further said that Washington and Tehran, if they agree, will “immediately” resume the stalled talks, and the implementation of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon will be at the top of the agenda.
Pakistani sources said mediators are hopeful for a “positive” response from both sides and expect talks to resume “very soon.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Pakistan on Monday on an official visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation.
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi received his Iranian counterpart at the airport.
Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam was also present, while Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry presented a bouquet to the visiting dignitary.
The Iranian delegation includes the Governor-General of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran’s deputy interior minister, the deputy minister for urban development and transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the special representative of Iran’s agriculture minister and other senior officials.
Later, Momeni met Naqvi in Islamabad, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest.
During the meeting, the Iranian minister expressed pleasure at meeting Naqvi again, referring to him as his “brother”. He described Pakistan-Iran relations as exemplary and praised the hospitality extended by the Pakistani government and people.
“I have always appreciated the hospitality of the government and people of Pakistan,” Momeni said.
Naqvi expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote closer ties between the two neighbouring countries. He also voiced hope for positive developments on regional issues.
“I hope Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has brought good news. Your visit to Pakistan will further promote bilateral relations, and we also hope for progress on the regional situation,” Naqvi said.
The Iranian interior minister is scheduled to hold separate meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during his visit.
Moreover, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Iran is engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States and Iran must accept the repercussions of the conflict.
“The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war. We must be realistic and accept the natural consequences of this resistance,” Pezeshkian said, according to a presidential statement reported by Al Jazeera.
Pezeshkian added that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed with the US largely favours Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed on Monday to “immediately repel” any US ground incursion into Iranian territory.
Speaking during a ceremony honoring air defense forces in the northeastern city of Shahroud, Brigadier General Rouhollah Nouri, deputy commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, said defense units are at the highest level of readiness to counter any US ground assault.
“The IRGC Ground Forces, particularly the defense units, are at the highest level of readiness and will neutralize any hostile act or enemy infiltration at the very first moment,” Nouri said in statements carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.