Baqaei also clarified Iran’s stance on regional sovereignty, stating that any mechanism concerning the Strait of Hormuz should be agreed upon by Iran, Oman, and countries bordering the waterway, asserting that the United States “has nothing to do” with it. Despite expressing a “trend towards rapprochement” with Washington, Baqaei cautioned that this did not guarantee an agreement on all important issues. He estimated that details would be discussed within 30 to 60 days to reach a final conclusion.

The mediation efforts have been spearheaded by Pakistan, whose Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, flew to Tehran on Friday for crucial talks. The Iranian government confirmed that Munir held discussions with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, to end the West Asia conflict and establish lasting peace. Munir was received by Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, while Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was already engaged in talks with top Iranian officials upon the Field Marshal’s arrival.

Military Implications and Regional Reactions

While diplomatic channels moved forward, military tensions remained high. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a stern warning on social media following his meeting with Field Marshal Munir in Tehran. Ghalibaf stated that Iran’s armed forces had rebuilt themselves during the ceasefire period. He warned that if President Trump “commits another act of folly and restarts the war, it will certainly be more crushing and bitter for the United States than on the first day of the war.”

The Financial Times reported on Saturday that mediators believe they are nearing an agreement to extend the U.S. ceasefire with Iran by 60 days. This potential framework would include a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, discussions on diluting or transferring Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, and steps by Washington to ease its blockade of Iranian ports and provide sanctions relief.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah announced it had received a message from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirming that Iran would not drop its support for the group. The group’s statement noted that Tehran’s proposal, submitted through Pakistani mediation to end the Iran war, reaffirmed its demand that Lebanon be included in any ceasefire agreement.

Despite the diplomatic progress, violence continued in the region. Israel maintained strikes on Lebanon on Saturday, hitting military barracks in the south and damaging a hospital in Tyre after an overnight raid. Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for 15 south Lebanon villages, indicating further strikes were imminent. Lebanese state media reported that an airstrike in an agricultural area wounded several Syrian workers. The Israeli military has been pounding Lebanon despite an April 17 ceasefire, which was recently extended for several weeks, while Hezbollah has also continued attacks.

The broader economic impact of the conflict is being closely watched. Sajjan Jindal, chairman of JSW Group, stated on Saturday that the West Asian conflict would not last more than two months and would not significantly hinder India’s growth story. He noted that industries focus on long-term plans and viewed the conflict as a temporary setback.

Separately, a source familiar with U.S. arms sales to Taiwan clarified that the process, which could be worth up to $14 billion, takes years and is unrelated to the conflict with Iran. The source dismissed suggestions that the war was pausing these sales, asserting that the U.S. military has sufficient stockpiles to serve all strategic goals. Meanwhile, Iran’s IRGC Navy reported that 25 ships had passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours after obtaining permission from Iran, signaling a partial normalization of traffic amidst the political negotiations.

Strategic Framework Shapes Regional Stability

The convergence of diplomatic efforts led by Pakistan and the tentative agreement between the U.S. and Iran suggest a potential de-escalation of hostilities. The proposed 60-day ceasefire extension and the framework for addressing nuclear concerns indicate a move toward a structured resolution. However, the continued military activity in Lebanon and the stark warnings from Iranian officials highlight the fragility of the peace process. If the 14-point framework is finalized, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could stabilize global energy markets, but any breach of the ceasefire could lead to intensified retaliation, underscoring the high stakes of the upcoming negotiations.