Pakistan says US, Iran nearing deal as Hormuz tensions persist and oil prices fall

Pakistan's Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, stated on Tuesday that the United States and Iran appear to be nearing "some sort of an arrangement," despite ongoing threats and a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. Asif noted that "Things are shaping up again in favor of a peace arrangement or a deal." This assessment led to a drop in oil prices due to renewed hopes for an agreement. Concurrently, U.S. forces reportedly attacked a Panama-flagged ship attempting to evade the blockade in the Gulf of Oman, firing a Hellfire missile at its rudder. U.S. President Donald Trump, while indicating he was "low keying" on Iran, also renewed demands for compensation from Iran for past conflicts. Israel is closely monitoring developments, with officials expressing concern about Trump's unpredictability and the potential for a shift in his approach, though some see the current economic pressure on Iran as favorable.