UAE, Iran discuss de-escalationin rare call

UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed discussed in a phone call with Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf de-escalation efforts in the Iran war, UAE state news agency WAM reported on Wednesday. The rare phone call between the two countries comes against the backdrop of the UAE having condemned Iran's attacks on Gulf states, describing them as terrorist acts, while also calling for the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the United States said on Wednesday its military had completely halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, even though Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week. Trump said negotiations between US and Iranian officials could resume in Pakistan in the next two days, and Vice President JD Vance, who led weekend talks that ended without a breakthrough, said he felt positive about where things stood. Officials from Pakistan, Iran and the Gulf also said negotiating teams from the US and Iran could return to Pakistan later this week, although one senior Iranian source said no date had been set. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the Pakistani delegation might arrive in Iran on Wednesday, while President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted that 'Iran does not seek war or instability.' It is highly probable that a Pakistani delegation will arrive in Iran on Wednesday and pass on messages from the US in a continuation of talks between Tehran and Washington, spokesperson Baghaei said in a weekly press conference carried by state media. Exchanges of messages continued after the Iranian delegation returned home from US-Iranian talks that were hosted by Pakistan on Saturday, he added.