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Araghchi believes US-Iran deal might be reached ‘in coming days’

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Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said a draft deal with the US would be signed “remotely” once finalised, which may happen “in the coming days”.“We will sign and announce this agreement when we conclude the final stages of our negotiations.” The signing will be electronic initially. Both sides will sign from a distance. “Then it will be announced that this memorandum of understanding has been signed by both parties,” Araghchi said state television in an interview.It is in the next couple of days. “I am very positive.”

There was room for improvement on the pact, he added, but the provisional agreement proved his country had come out of the fight stronger.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran wanted a deal that would allow Tehran to charge ships “for services rendered” when they passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has put a toll system in place throughout the war that the US and other countries contend violates international law.“There will be costs involved,” Araghchi added. “And those costs must be paid.

Hours after those remarks, a source familiar with the incident told Reuters that U.S. forces shot down several Iranian one-way attack drones headed for the Strait of Hormuz. The insider, who agreed to speak only on the condition of anonymity, claimed the drones had been a menace to commercial traffic. Later, U.S. Central Command acknowledged the action and declared the river was available for transit.

Iranian news agencies said there were explosions along the strait from Iran’s Sirik port and Qeshm island, which residents and local officials said were shots fired by Iranian forces to warn off vessels attempting to cross the waterway without permission from the navy of the Revolutionary Guards.

Sources on all sides of the talks stated the planned memorandum of understanding called for re-opening the strait and lifting the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports. Then there’d be talks on Iran’s nuclear program, which President Donald Trump used as the reason for initiating the war.

The U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the accord fulfilled Trump’s key goals and placed negotiations “in a very, very good place”.

Western, Pakistani and Iranian reports of the draft proposal included parameters that might play into Iran’s hands, eliciting anger from Trump who dismissed the reports as false.

The suggestions basically gave Tehran much of what it has sought with only small variances in the details, with Trump apparently winning nothing beyond reopening the strait, which Iran closed after the U.S. and Israel strikes in February.

Iran and Oman will keep control of traffic across the strait that before the conflict carried one fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply, Araqchi said.”Our sword will always hang over the Strait of Hormuz,” he declared.

A Western source said the accord may be signed as early as Sunday by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, with Geneva the most likely destination.

The U.S. administration official said Europe had been explored as a venue for signing but no decision had been made.

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Mohsin Naqvi, KP governor agree on constitutional role to protect province from terrorism

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Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi have agreed to assume the role of constitutional institutions to defend the province from terrorism and law and order.

Naqvi met Governor Kundi during an important meeting at Governor House Peshawar on Sunday. The Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police attended the meeting.

The conference discussed the political and security scenario in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including law and order situation and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, an official release said.

The governor and the interior minister pledged to use their constitutional position to assist defend the province against terrorism.

In case the president and prime minister felt that the governor’s rule or emergency was needed, the Governor House will play its constitutional duty, the statement added.

The meeting also examined the utilisation of state resources during the PTI long march. Using a government helicopter or other state resources for the march would contradict court decisions, the statement said.

As per sources, the top cop of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the interior minister about the security status of the province.

The IGP said the police were on high alert in several sections of the province amid uncertainties. Police personnel from several districts had been dispatched to the police lines and a plan was in place to cope with any emergency situation.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi agreed that constitutional institutions should play their duty to defend the province from terrorists and preserve law and order.

Naqvi met Governor Kundi during an important meeting at Governor House Peshawar on Sunday. The Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police attended the meeting.

The conference discussed the political and security scenario in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including law and order situation and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, an official release said.

The governor and the interior minister pledged to use their constitutional position to assist defend the province against terrorism.

In case the president and prime minister felt that the governor’s rule or emergency was needed, the Governor House will play its constitutional duty, the statement added.

The meeting also examined the utilisation of state resources during the PTI long march. Using a government helicopter or other state resources for the march would contradict court decisions, the statement said.

As per sources, the top cop of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa informed the interior minister about the security status of the province.

The IGP said the police were on high alert in several sections of the province amid uncertainties. Police personnel from different districts were called to police lines and a strategy was created to tackle any emergency situation.

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UN secretary general set to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday

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 United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on Tuesday morning.

During his visit, he will have meetings in Islamabad with senior government officials, including with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. He will also meet with President Asif Ali Zardari.

The Secretary-General was last in Pakistan in 2022, when he visited regions impacted by the devastating floods. This time, he will again visit the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where he will see firsthand the progress Pakistan has made in strengthening its preparedness and resilience since the floods.

In Islamabad, the Secretary-General will visit the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan, otherwise known as UNMOGIP.

The visit will also be an opportunity for the Secretary-General to discuss Pakistan’s diplomatic and mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, including its constructive role in supporting negotiations between the two countries.

The Secretary-General is expected to be back in New York on Thursday.

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Khawaja Asif probes PTI on terrorist policy, asks eight questions

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Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to answer eight questions on its attitude and policies on terrorism and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Asif stated in a statement on X, PTI has often times claimed that they were not allowed to create a policy against terrorism. He claimed the claim prompted him to ask the party eight basic questions.

Asif questioned who had stopped PTI from adopting a counter-terrorism policy during its 13-year rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its tenure in power at the federal level. He also questioned whatever policy had prevented the party from adopting the National Action Plan and holding Apex Committee sessions.

He asked what policy was required to brand terrorists terrorists, condemn terrorists coming from Afghanistan, and openly stand with the armed forces against attacks on the military and civilians.

The defence minister also questioned as to why the KP government had not explicitly condemned the recent drone assaults from Afghanistan in Kohat and what policy stood in the way of it.

Asif also asked how many times the KP government had complained or condemned by name the Afghan regime, alleged cross-border violations, fire on Pakistani security stations and troops, infiltration and direct or indirect support to terrorists.

Asif questioned KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi about the practical efforts that were taken in the last 13 years to eliminate the unlawful economic activities which allegedly helped terrorists in the province, including extortion, smuggling and the trade in non-customs-paid automobiles.

His sixth inquiry was on security forces combating terrorism. Asif enquired how many times Afridi had visited security forces at their positions to show solidarity and how many times he had visited victims of terrorism in KP to support the affected families.

Asif also asked as to why the KP administration distorted the state’s narrative against terrorism by varied techniques, as per him, and why it did not refer to and condemn terrorists as “Khawarij”.

In his eighth point, the defence minister stated that throughout 13 years of PTI government in KP, corruption had been pushed and accused the provincial leadership of squandering public resources. He alluded to charges by PTI members against each other on social media and an allegation by a lady member of the National Assembly about alleged misappropriation of party finances received from outside and asked the party to answer.

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