Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir is set to meet with Iranian officials in Tehran in a new effort to reach a deal to begin a process aimed at ending the war with the U.S. and Israel.
The immediate goal is reaching a deal to end the war and begin negotiations for a broader agreement, a Pakistani source told Axios.
The outlet noted that his presence in the talks could mean that the country is making a final push towards a deal.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that "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."
He went on to say that the U.S.'s key demand is that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon" and that a deal would have to address the country's stockpile of enriched uranium and nuclear policy in the future.
Rubio also said Iran can't be allowed to charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a goal the country has set as a result of the war.
It is unclear whether the countries will be able to bridge gaps on these issues, especially the nuclear one. In fact, Reuters reported on Thursday that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a directive saying that the country's enriched uranium must remain in the country.
"The Supreme Leader's directive, and the consensus within the establishment, is that the stockpile of enriched uranium should not leave the country," one of the sources told the outlet. They believe such a development could leave the country more vulnerable to future attacks.
Moreover, Israeli officials told the outlet that Trump assured the country that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium will be removed from the country and any deal must include a related clause.
As for the Strait of Hormuz, another report by Reuters said that Iran is consolidating its control with island checkpoints, diplomatic arrangements, and, in some cases, reported transit "fees" to decide which vessels can pass through one of the world's most important oil routes.
Ships moving through the waterway are now being subjected to a multi-tiered clearance process by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which can include affiliation checks, inspections, and diplomatic intervention.
The new system reportedly includes "affiliation checks" meant to screen vessels for links to the United States or Israel. Ships connected to countries with closer ties to Tehran, including Russia and China, have faced fewer obstacles, while others have encountered delays, inspections, or demands for payments.
