Fresh positive signals from Pakistan have boosted expectations of a thaw in US-Iran relations, causing international oil prices to decline rapidly.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated in Islamabad on August 11 that "signals over the past two or three days indicate we are very close to reaching some kind of arrangement." When asked about the latest developments in US-Iran negotiations, he added, "Events are moving in a direction favorable to peace."

Pakistan is currently acting as a mediator between the United States and Iran. Asif also noted that a recent trilateral defense agreement among Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan is unrelated to the US-Iran conflict.

Boosted by this news, international oil prices fell sharply. Brent crude dropped $1.24 per barrel within five minutes, trading at $87.83 per barrel, while WTI crude fell $1.15 per barrel in the same period to $82.49 per barrel. Earlier in the day, Brent crude had briefly surpassed $90 per barrel, with intraday gains reaching 2.4%.

Signals from US-Iran Talks Fluctuate

The outlook for US-Iran negotiations had deteriorated significantly over the weekend.

US President Donald Trump posted on social media on August 10 that he had noticed Iran was demanding compensation for losses suffered during military conflicts over the past five months. Trump stated, "I am also demanding compensation from Iran, and I have instructed my representatives to include this requirement explicitly in all future negotiations."

The latest statements indicate a marginal improvement in expectations for US-Iran talks. Asif said that signals over the past two to three days suggest both sides are "close to reaching some kind of arrangement." However, the specific details of this "arrangement" remain unclear, and whether the negotiations will ultimately achieve substantial progress still needs to be seen.