{"text":[[{"start":13.3,"text":"Pakistan’s prime minister said on Saturday that the US and Iran were expected to “electronically” sign a deal to extend a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the next 24 hours."}],[{"start":25.75,"text":"The comments by Shehbaz Sharif come after a week of frantic diplomatic activity by regional mediators amid clashes between the US and Iran that threatened to plunge the adversaries back into full-blown war."}],[{"start":40.45,"text":"“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” Sharif said on X. “With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical-level talks next week.” "}],[{"start":56.35,"text":"Pakistan and Qatar have been leading mediation efforts to extend the April 8 ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the strait and lay the framework for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme with the aim of reaching a final deal to end the war. "}],[{"start":70.95,"text":"The narrow waterway — which Iran has in effect closed since the US and Israel launched their war more than 100 days ago on February 28 — would be reopened as Iranian forces clear mines during the first 30 days. "}],[{"start":85.95,"text":"Iran would not charge tolls on vessels transiting the chokepoint during the 60-day period, according to a person briefed on the deal. "}],[{"start":93.7,"text":"The US would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports. "}],[{"start":97.9,"text":"Under the terms of the deal, Iran would reaffirm it will not procure or develop nuclear weapons. Tehran and Washington would agree to resolve during the nuclear talks the disposal of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium under a mechanism both agreed to, a person briefed on the matter said. "}],[{"start":115.25,"text":"The minimum commitment would be for all uranium to be diluted on-site under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has a stockpile of more than 9,000kg of enriched uranium. "}],[{"start":127.85,"text":"Most of it is at low levels, but 440kg is enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Tehran has always insisted its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes."}],[{"start":139.45,"text":"People briefed on the talks have said any sanctions relief for Iran would be phased and dependent on the progress on nuclear talks that would begin once the memorandum of understanding had been signed. "}],[{"start":150.6,"text":"A senior Trump administration official told reporters on Saturday that the agreement being discussed with Iran was “a great deal and a very strong deal” but declined to comment on “when it will be signed”. "}],[{"start":162.2,"text":"Trump will be heading to the G7 summit in France early next week, with the Middle East top of the agenda. He will hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Qatar, UAE and Egypt on the sidelines of the summit, US officials said."}],[{"start":177.79999999999998,"text":"A senior US official said on Friday that the two sides expected to sign a deal in the coming days. The official said the deal would lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme. "}],[{"start":189.2,"text":"“What we do also see is broad consensus in the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], among the hardliners, among the civilian leadership, that this is a good and acceptable deal,” the US official said. “So we actually feel quite confident that there is consensus within the system.” "}],[{"start":206.39999999999998,"text":"On Saturday Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the timing of the signing of a memorandum of understanding remains unclear. According to state media, he said that the agreement could be signed in the coming days, but not on Sunday."}],[{"start":222.39999999999998,"text":"“Due to the other side’s instability and inconsistency regarding this process, we should be cautious about making any comments on the matter,” he said."}],[{"start":230.95,"text":"On Friday Baghaei said that meetings of the relevant institutions “are under way”. “To reach a definitive and final outcome, consensus must be achieved among the decision-making authorities and the institutions involved in this matter,” he said. "}],[{"start":246.29999999999998,"text":"Reopening the strait has been a priority for US President Donald Trump as the war has triggered the worst global energy crisis in decades and pushed up prices at American petrol pumps ahead of November’s midterm elections. "}],[{"start":259,"text":"The US and Iran exchanged fire multiple times this week after Trump on Tuesday accused Iranian forces of downing a US helicopter over the strait. The Islamic regime responded to US strikes on southern Iran by firing missiles and drones at American bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, with the clashes threatening to derail the diplomatic push for a deal. "}],[{"start":282,"text":"Trump has repeatedly said the US and Iran were nearing a deal, but the warring parties have not previously been as explicit about reaching the final stages of an agreement. "}],[{"start":291.05,"text":"A deal would ease global energy prices and bring relief to Gulf states, which have been repeatedly struck by Iran as it retaliated against US and Israeli attacks by firing salvos of missiles and drones at its Arab neighbours. "}],[{"start":311.85,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1781368522_8064.mp3"}