NEW YORK, August 11. /TASS/. The United States and Iran are close to reaching "some sort of an arrangement" to resolve the conflict, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has told Bloomberg.

"Things are shaping up again in favor of a peace arrangement or a deal," he was quoted as saying. "The signals in the last two three days are that we are close to some sort of an arrangement."

The minister, whose country is mediating the diplomatic effort to resolve the conflict, added that a lasting peace between the United States and Iran would benefit all Middle Eastern countries.

The United States and Israel started a war against Iran on February 28. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding calling for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, early on July 8, the United States renewed massive airstrikes on Iran, accusing Tehran of violating their previous agreements regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

On August 2, Trump said he had agreed to cancel the planned major strike against Iran to reach a deal with Tehran. According to him, Iran and the countries of the Middle East asked Washington to refrain from the attack, as the parties had agreed on the outlines of a future agreement. On August 6, Saudi TV channel Al Arabiya reported, citing a high-ranking source, that mediated consultations between Washington and Tehran have entered the final stage.