Middle East ceasefire deal expected within days
Pakistan's PM says agreement to end war between Israel, Iran and U.S. could be finalized within 24 hours, with funeral for slain Iranian leader Khamenei set for July.
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A deal to end the war between Israel, Iran, and the United States is closer than ever, according to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who said Saturday an agreement could be finalized within 24 hours. Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement, followed by technical-level talks next week.
The potential breakthrough comes after Iran exchanged fire with the U.S. and Israel over three days this week, a period that threatened to escalate the Middle East into full-scale conflict. The war, launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, has rattled the region and virtually shut down oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 7.
Iran's state-run television reported Saturday that funeral processions for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in the opening salvo of the war in late February, would be held between July 4 and 9. Khamenei has since been replaced by his son, Mojtaba, who is seen as even less compromising. Funeral ceremonies for Khamenei's daughter and son-in-law, also killed in the February strike, will be held the same day.
The agreement will be signed in the coming days after officials in Washington and Tehran approve it, according to regional officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.