US, Iran talks likely next week

US and Iran could resume negotiations as early as next week in Islamabad, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter. The report said both sides are working through mediators on the one-page, 14-point MoU intended to establish the framework for a month-long negotiating process aimed at ending the conflict. One of the main sticking points is the scope of potential sanctions relief for Tehran.

Meanwhile, a tenuous ceasefire appeared to be holding Saturday after US struck two Iranian oil tankers, while Bahrain, which hosts the US navy's regional headquarters, said it arrested 41 people it alleged were linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Bahrain is led by a Sunni monarchy but, like Iran, has a majority Shia population. Rights groups have said the kingdom has used the war as an excuse to crack down on dissent. Iran issued a warning to Bahrain. "Siding with the US-backed resolution will bring severe consequences. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital lifeline; do not risk closing it on yourselves FOREVER," Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission of Iran's Parliament, said on social media.

Britain's defence ministry said it was deploying a warship to join a potential mission to protect commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end. The ministry said the HMS Dragon will "preposition" in the region, ready to join a UK and French-led security plan. France announced this week it was moving its aircraft carrier strike group into the Red Sea.

In response to voices from US that they expected a response to their proposal soon, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the country was not paying attention to "deadlines". A top Iranian official also said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was in "complete health" and eventually would appear in public. agencies