The new rapprochement for peace between the United States and Iran in Islamabad (Pakistan) is marked by uncertainty and contradictory signs that reveal that the situation remains extremely complex. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abás Araqchiwho landed a few hours ago in the Pakistani capital, has announced that he does not plan to meet with White House envoys, , whose trip was announced this Friday by President Donald Trump. They are scheduled to arrive in the next few hours.
“No meeting between Iran and the United States is expected to occur. Iran’s observations would be communicated to Pakistan,” Iranian authorities reported early this Saturday, slamming the door on speculation about a possible bilateral meeting.
Your spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaeihas confirmed the latter through its social networks and has framed the Iranian “official visit” as part of the “mediation and good offices efforts being carried out” by senior Pakistani officials to end “the war of aggression imposed by the United States and restore peace in our region.”
The deputy director general of think tank German Marshall Fund, Kristina Kausch, explains in statements to Europa Press that the American president is the first interested in stopping the war: “It is a war that he did not want in which he has basically fallen involuntarily, at least that is what it seems from the outside, that it has gotten out of hand.” However, the current situation could drag on “for a long time,” “with different excuses.”
The expert aims to take into account “Try to create the image that the ceasefire is effective, that the pure and simple war has ended and that they are the ones who decide whether it extends or not. That they are the ones who are in control,” he explains. Of course, “none of this is true.”
Gira regional
How the agency is progressing Efeit is notable that Abás Araqchí is heading to Oman after passing through Pakistan. Muscat was the main mediator between the United States and Iran before the White House decided to go to war against Tehran even as it worked to keep diplomatic channels open. Furthermore, “there is no doubt” that both countries will discuss the blockade whose sovereignty they share and whose reopening is key for all parties in this conflict.
In any case, with the times and distances that Araqchi plans to travel these days, unfeasible, except for a last-minute program change, a meeting in Islamabad.
“Small progress”
Although it seems evident that neither side wants to give in, Washington stated this Friday that Witkoff and Kushner would travel after having identified “some progress” by Tehran in recent days, and after it was Iran that requested a direct meeting, which suggests that Some diplomatic channels have remained open these days.
However, the United States continues to detain Iranian merchant ships and oil tankers as part of its naval blockade. Trump ordered the blockade to remain in force despite the fact that it is Iran’s main red line to return to direct negotiations. In addition, in recent hours it has also imposed new financial sanctions on the Persian country, aimed at attacking its oil trade.
In this regard, Kausch points out that the nuclear issue has remained in the background due to this type of long and methodical negotiations. He remembers that the 2015 nuclear agreement took years of negotiation, so he does not see it viable for Iran and the United States to close a significant agreement in a matter of weeks.
On the other hand, he considers that in the short term Iran will demand that any pact include lowering international sanctions against Tehran “significantly.” “In order to implement a new lifting of sanctions, “Trump has to fight with Netanyahu”.
About to complete two months of the offensive, the American president once again takes another turn in his strategy in the war with and without an apparent expiration date that he justifies in the supposed divisions within the Islamic Republic over the final agreement to be negotiated with the North American side.
