Hope US-Iran peace deal holds until formal signing of accord: Omar
DH NEWS SERVICE
Srinagar, jun 15
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said his National Conference will go ahead with its decision to hold a sit-in protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament to remind the Centre of its promise of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Abdullah said the decision to hold the protest has not changed following his recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Abdullah met the prime minister in Delhi on June 11, strongly pressing for the “early return” of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and seeking central support to accelerate the region’s economic and infrastructural growth. “There is no change in that plan. We are still fully committed to the one-day protest at Jantar Mantar at the beginning of the monsoon session to remind the Centre of the promise of statehood it has made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the Supreme Court, Parliament and in many public statements,” he said.
On his meeting with the prime minister, Abdullah said they discussed statehood, the financial position of Jammu and Kashmir and on how to expedite the development process in the Union Territory.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said he hoped the agreement to end the US-Iran war holds until the formal signing of the accord.
Official signing of the accord to permanently end the more than three months old confrontation in the Gulf region will be held in Switzerland on Friday.
“Neither you nor I know what is in that peace deal. Perhaps, the United States, Iran, and to some extent Pakistan know what is in it. We will have to wait till Friday,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday evening announced that a deal was finalised to end the 107-day war with Iran, which triggered a global energy crisis.
“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He said the deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
“I hereby fully authorise the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz and, simultaneously, authorise the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump said.
However, in a subsequent post, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz will open on Friday after the official signing of the agreement.
Abdullah said he hoped that nothing would be done to derail the peace deal until Friday.
“We hope that this war stops for good and the Strait of Hormuz is opened. The injustice done to Iran — since they did not start the war — and the losses to their assets suffered in the strikes also need to be mentioned (in this deal),” he said.
Asked about preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra, Abdullah said, “We welcome the pilgrims. We hope they have a good pilgrimage”.
The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir will commence on July 3, 2026, and conclude on August 9.
