The US and Iran may resume talks in Islamabad as early as next week, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter. The report said both sides are working through mediators on a one-page, 14-point MOU that aims to establish the framework for a month-long negotiation process aimed at ending the conflict. One of the main speculation points is the scope of possible sanctions relief for Tehran.Meanwhile, a tenuous ceasefire appeared to be in place on Saturday after the US attacked two Iranian oil tankers, while Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy’s regional headquarters, said it had arrested 41 people it alleged were linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Bahrain is led by a Sunni monarchy, but like Iran, has a majority Shia population. Rights groups have said the state has used the war as a pretext to crush dissent. Iran issues warning to Bahrain. “Taking sides with the US-backed resolution will have serious consequences. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital lifeline; do not risk closing it forever,” Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliament’s National Security Commission, said on social media.Britain’s Defense Ministry said it is deploying a warship to join a possible mission to protect commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after the end of hostilities. The ministry said HMS Dragon would “make advances” to the region, ready to join a security plan led by Britain and France. France announced this week it was moving its aircraft carrier strike group to the Red Sea.In response to the US voicing that it expected a response to its proposal soon, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said the country was not paying attention to “deadlines”. A top Iranian official also said that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in “perfect health” and will eventually appear in public. agencies