Pakistan’s army chief meets Iranian speaker in push to extend ceasefire

Reported damage on a fishing pier in the port of Qeshm island, Iran, backdropped by ships in the Strait of Hormuz (Asghar Besharati/AP)

Pakistan’s powerful army chief has met Iran’s parliament speaker as part of international efforts to press for an extension to a ceasefire that has paused almost seven weeks of war between Israel, the US and the Islamic Republic.

It was unclear whether the frantic diplomacy could lead to a lasting deal as the two-week ceasefire passes the halfway mark.