US and Iran report progress on talks ending war

Iran, the United States and mediator Pakistan all said on Saturday that progress had been ‌made in talks on ending almost three months of war.

Iran said it was focused on finalising a memorandum of understanding after its top officials met Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir.

Sources have told Reuters the proposed framework would unfold ​in three stages: formally ending the war, resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and launching a 30-day window for negotiations on a broader agreement, ​which can be extended.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would discuss the latest Iran draft agreement with advisers and might make ⁠a decision on Sunday on whether to resume attacks on Iran, Axios reported, citing an interview with Trump.

"Either we reach a good deal or I'll blow them to ​a thousand hells," Axios quoted him as saying.

Trump, whose ratings have been hit by the war's impact on energy prices for U.S. consumers, said ​on Friday he would not attend his son's wedding this weekend, citing Iran among the reasons he planned to stay in Washington.

An Arab official told Reuters Trump would hold a phone call on Saturday with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

Pakistan's mediation push aims to narrow differences between Iran and the U.S. after weeks of war that have left the vital Hormuz ​waterway closed to most shipping despite a nervous ceasefire, upending global energy markets.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeated Trump's demands: "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. The straits ​need to be open without tolls. They need to turn over their enriched uranium."

Rubio, who is visiting India, said some progress had been made and work was continuing.

"Even as I speak ‌to you now, ⁠there's some work being done. There is a chance that, whether it's later today, tomorrow, in a couple days, we may have something to say," Rubio told reporters in New Delhi.—Reuters