PAKISTANI sources said today they were expecting a “major breakthrough” in talks between Iran and the United States on the major sticking point of Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The cause for optimism came as a high-level delegation from Islamabad, headed by Army Chief Field Marshall Asim Munir, touched down in the Iranian capital to deliver a message from the US, Press TV reported today.

Field Marshall Munir is leading efforts to set up a second round of talks between Iran and the US.

Pakistan’s shuttle diplomacy came after talks between the two sides, hosted in Islamabad, ended over the weekend without an agreement on ending the illegal and unprovoked US-Israel war against Iran, which began on February 28.

The mediators are pressing for a deal on what appear to be the substantive issues dividing the two warring sides: Iran’s nuclear programme, control of the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages.

Attempts to reach a deal appear to have been bolstered by comments from US President Donald Trump, who said late on Tuesday that the world should brace for an “amazing two days” and the war on Iran is “very close to over.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said further negotiations would likely be held in Islamabad, adding: “We feel good about the prospects of a deal.”

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that exchanges with the US have continued since the weekend. 

He said that “several messages have been exchanged through Pakistan” and that Iranian “positions have been expressed in those exchanges.”

But tensions remain, notably with a US Navy blockade of Iranian ports which Tehran has branded a violation of the April 8 ceasefire.

Another area of tension is the supply of weapons to Iran.

Earlier this week Mr Trump said he had received assurances from China that it would not supply weapons to the Islamic Republic.

But a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakun, said today: “Let me make it clear that no such communication has taken place. China has neither confirmed nor denied supplying weapons to Iran.

“Our security agreements and defence co-operation are sovereign matters that belong to China alone. No foreign country has the right to interfere in China’s internal affairs.”

He added: “World leaders should choose their words carefully before speaking.”