Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he was not surprised by the recent developments in the negotiations between the US and Iran and that there is “full coordination” between the US and Israel.
“We are maintaining continuous contact with our friends in the US. I speak with President Trump on an almost daily basis. My people and his people speak daily, including today. And I will speak again with President Trump later tonight,” Netanyahu said.
“We share common goals, and the most important objective is the removal of all enriched material from Iran and the dismantling of Iran’s enrichment capabilities,” he added.
“However, we are prepared for any scenario, and this is the directive I have given to the IDF and our security agencies. Israel is stronger than ever; Iran and its proxies are weaker than ever,” Netanyahu concluded.
Pakistani officials express cautious optimism over possible deal
Pakistani officials are expressing cautious optimism that a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran may be within reach, after Trump ordered a pause in Project Freedom, which aimed to use American assets in the region to help ships in the Persian Gulf cross the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview, Islamabad-based Pakistani foreign affairs analyst Omer Azhar said senior Pakistani officials believe the discussions are moving toward a possible memorandum of understanding.
“The sense within Pakistani official circles is that we are moving closer to a deal,” Azhar said. “The terminology has shifted. Instead of a comprehensive agreement, the expectation now is an MoU that could lay the groundwork for further negotiations.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly welcomed the pause in Project Freedom, issuing a statement thanking the Trump administration. But Azhar said that while there is optimism among officials, it has not yet produced visible developments on the ground.
“While there is a lot of positive sentiment in official corridors, there is currently no concrete activity suggesting an imminent summit,” he said.
Islamabad appears calm. There have been no signs of heightened security, and major hotels that had previously been reserved for possible diplomatic delegations remain open to the public. That suggests no high-level meetings are scheduled in the immediate future.
Despite the upbeat tone, major obstacles remain. The most significant is Iran’s stockpile of about 400 kg. of uranium enriched to 60%, which is expected to be the central sticking point in any negotiations.
“That will be the thorn in the process,” Azhar said. “It’s the issue that could ultimately define whether talks succeed or stall.”
