Pakistani field marshal heads to Tehran to try to seal U.S.-Iran deal
· Axios
Pakistan's top military commander, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is traveling to Tehran on Friday in an effort to reach a deal under which the U.S. and Iran would agree to end the war and launch negotiations for a broader agreement, a Pakistani security source told Axios.
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Why it matters: Munir has been the lead mediator between the U.S. and Iran since the war began. The fact that he is heading to Tehran after several days of lower-level talks could signal a final push by Pakistan to try to get a deal.
Driving the news: The mediators are trying to finalize a letter of intent that includes an agreement to end the war and principles for another 30 days of negotiations on a broader deal that would also address Iran's nuclear program.
- Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey have all been involved in the mediation.
- It has remained unclear whether Iran would be willing to sign such a document at a time when some in Tehran appear to believe the leverage is on their side.
What they're saying: "There's been some slight progress. I don't want to exaggerate it, but there's been a little bit of movement, and that's good," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
- He added that the fundamental demand is that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. It just cannot."
- Rubio said a deal would have to address Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and enrichment policy going forward.
- He also said Iran must not be allowed to set up "tolls" in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran reiterated its intention to establish such a system on Thursday.
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