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Sources told CNN-News18 that late-night discussions in Tehran were ‘positive’, though negotiators are yet to reach a final agreement on key disputed issues.
Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran. (File image: X/@araghchi)
A fresh round of high-stakes diplomatic engagement involving Iran, Pakistan and Qatar is underway in Tehran, with negotiators attempting to narrow differences over sanctions relief, frozen Iranian funds and broader conflict de-escalation in the region amid indirect engagement with the United States.
According to top security and diplomatic sources tracking the developments, discussions held late Friday night were described as “positive”, although negotiators have not yet reached a final agreement.
The latest round of consultations comes amid what sources describe as a potentially decisive phase in efforts to secure an interim understanding between Tehran and Washington, with Pakistani and Qatari interlocutors playing a key mediation role.
Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir also landed in Tehran on Friday as part of the broader diplomatic engagement, with Pakistani and Qatari officials expected to hold further meetings with the Iranian leadership on Saturday.
Tehran had identified and designated its negotiating team ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes consultations.
Sources familiar with the negotiations said a draft framework is already prepared and now awaits approval from the higher political leaderships in both Tehran and Washington.
“A draft resolution is ready & needs approval from higher authorities of both United States & Iran; that is what we are working on,” a key source close to interlocutors in Tehran told CNN-News18.
Iranian negotiators are understood to be pressing for clearer guarantees regarding access to frozen funds and easing of oil-related sanctions and embargoes.
“The working mechanism is underway to narrow the gaps between Iran’s legitimate demands & Washington’s desires,” the Iranian side reportedly conveyed to interlocutors involved in the talks.
Sources added that Tehran appreciates the mediation efforts by regional countries, but continues to insist that any breakthrough would ultimately require what Iranian negotiators described as “sincere American will”.
Diplomatic sources in Tehran said discussions over contentious issues continued late into Friday night, with Pakistani mediators actively exchanging proposals and positions between stakeholders.
According to the sources, the immediate focus remains on ending the ongoing conflict and preventing further escalation in the region before moving to broader negotiations on other contentious matters.
Sources further claimed that some progress had been made compared to previous rounds of engagement, although negotiators remain cautious about declaring a breakthrough prematurely.
“Progress has been made compared to before on some topics but until a conclusion is reached on all disputed matters, no agreement will take place; the talks are resuming in the morning on Saturday and the hopes are very high,” diplomatic sources in Tehran claimed.
Meanwhile, sources indicated that the United States was considering virtual participation in Saturday’s Tehran consultations as discussions intensified around a possible interim arrangement.
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