PH welcomes US-Iran ceasefire; hopes for eventual peace deal

MANILA, April 10 ------ The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), welcomed with “cautious optimism” the planned negotiations between the United States and Iran, and hoped for an eventual peace deal.

Iran and the US formally agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with talks to negotiate a peace agreement set to begin in Pakistan on Friday. In a statement, the DFA expressed hope that the dialogue would “lead to the permanent end of the conflict and lasting peace.” “The conflict has caused significant loss of lives and damage to civilian and economic infrastructure, as well as disruptions in the global economy,” it said. “The Philippines continues to hope that all parties will resolve their differences through earnest dialogue and diplomacy,” it added.

The joint military operations mounted by Israel and the United States against Iran on Feb. 28, killed the latter’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting it to launch deadly retaliatory strikes that later stretched to neighboring Gulf states. Afterwards, Tehran imposed a de facto blockade on the Strait of Hormuz that has since sent energy markets into shock, with rising oil and fuel prices compelling governments to implement various austerity measures.

Source: pna.gov.ph