Both sides are actively engaging in diplomacy through Pakistan to reach a deal, Pakistani sources say.
Iran’s National News Agency said Iran will not participate in the second round of talks with the United States to be held in Islamabad. PHOTO: APA NEWS
Away from the media spotlight, Pakistan is quietly working to break the current stalemate between the United States and Iran, focusing on finding a new formula for a long-awaited deal over the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear program, two government sources familiar with the matter said. anadolu On Wednesday.
“Both sides are actively engaged in secondary diplomacy, passing formulas and counterformulas through Pakistan to reach a deal,” a source said, adding that current negotiations were focused on the almost closed Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue.
The sources, however, did not provide details on either side’s formulas, saying Pakistan’s approach was to find a “middle way” on the two latent issues.
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Washington and Tehran are currently at an impasse over a new Iranian peace proposal conveyed by Pakistan, following two visits to Islamabad last week by Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister.
The proposal offered to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade of Iranian ports.
Tehran has also suggested that talks on its nuclear program should be postponed to the next round of talks, an offer that President Donald Trump “has so far shown no interest in accepting,” according to the sources.
“Nothing [in the formulae] It is final as the exchanges are ongoing,” the source said.
“Hopefully, the two sides will reach common ground soon,” the source added, saying Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir were “personally engaged” in the ongoing backdoor diplomacy to break the deadlock.
The two have been actively involved in the mediation process, as CDF Munir has spoken with Trump several times in recent weeks.
“Iran’s current position is that, since the nuclear issue is complex and [it] requires long and comprehensive talks, the Strait of Hormuz issue should be discussed in the first phase, which is easier to resolve. “The American side, however, does not agree with the proposal and wants an agreement on both issues at the same time,” the source said.
“But Trump is still discussing the proposal with his advisers,” they added.
Little chance of war resuming
Pakistan hosted the first round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on April 11 and 12, but failed to reach an agreement to end the war.
The talks followed a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8, which was later extended by Trump.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today said Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts continue “consistently” to achieve a negotiated solution to the conflict, which has paralyzed global energy supplies and daily life across the Middle East.
Playing down the chances of a resumption of war, Pakistani sources seemed convinced that the current ceasefire would continue despite “strong” statements from both sides.
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“It is a game that tests the nerves between the two sides. Otherwise, there is less chance that the United States will resume the war despite a military buildup in the Middle East, which Tehran sees as a psychological tactic,” a source said.
“Iran’s impression is that, due to already disrupted energy supplies around the world, growing opposition to the war within the US and its European allies, and Trump’s declining approval ratings, are major obstacles to resuming the war. That is why (Tehran) does not seem to be in a hurry,” the source added.
Washington believes Iran’s “increasing” economic difficulties will force the Islamic republic to reach a deal that suits the United States, the source said.
“Forget the media statements. Both sides have to satisfy their domestic audiences,” another source said.
Nuclear issue and regional security framework
Aragchi’s recent trips to Pakistan, Oman and Russia and phone calls with his Saudi, Egyptian, French and Qatari counterparts focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue, the sources said.
The United States has already rejected an offer from Moscow to keep Iran’s enriched uranium, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. India today earlier this month.
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Another objective of the visit to Moscow was to seek guarantees for the implementation of any possible agreement “in letter and spirit” with the United States. According to sources, Iran wants Russian President Vladimir Putin as a guarantor of the possible deal, especially to guarantee that there will be no US and Israeli attacks in the future.
In addition to talks with the US, the Islamic republic is also discussing a “regional security framework” with regional nations to defend the region from any “external aggression”, a move that sources consider premature due to several factors, including US economic and military influence and security agreements with Gulf nations, international sanctions on Tehran and tense relations between Iran and Arab countries, especially after Tehran attacked US sites in several Gulf countries in retaliation. by the attacks of the US and Israel.
