UAE VP discusses de-escalation efforts with Iran's speaker Ghalibaf, WAM says

The United Arab Emirates 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 came 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. Read: Oil mixed as Middle East supply uncertainty outweighs hopes for US-Iran talks 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.