President Trump says in an interview peace talks with the Iranians are “getting a lot closer” but if a deal isn’t soon reached the US will
“blow them to kingdom come”. Iran is focusing the negotiations on
ending the war “on all fronts including Lebanon” and refuses to discuss its nuclear programme, the Foreign Ministry says.
Pakistan says it held “highly productive talks” with the Iranian leadership in Tehran resulting in “encouraging progress towards a final understanding” between the United States and Iran.
Israel continues to launch air strikes on southern Lebanon after killing at least 3,123 people since March 2 despite an ongoing ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Pakistan ‘very upbeat’ after intensive Iran talks in Tehran
They are indeed very upbeat about the negotiations here in Pakistan. The military issued a statement earlier, saying that the extensive talks were very productive.
The Pakistani military chief, General Asim Munir, rushed to Tehran on Friday for 24 hours of intensive negotiations, which included meetings with the Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and other senior officials.
And there is now, of course, optimism here in Islamabad that many of the irritants have been removed.
It will be important to see what comes out of Washington. Tehran, of course, has indicated to Islamabad that it is willing to consider several options. There is some talk, although we cannot confirm that, that Iran may be willing to dilute its enriched uranium and, of course, partially open the Strait of Hormuz.
It would want the United States also to lift the blockade.
So, the coming few hours, the coming few days will be critical. And if there is indeed a note from Washington, perhaps we could see another round of talks in Islamabad.
‘This is the Suez moment for the US’
The US is facing a crisis that resembles the
1956 Suez War that led to the decline of the UK’s colonial powers in the Middle East, according to a former senior US diplomat who served as ambassador to Tunisia.
“The British won tactically; they lost strategically – and they had to hand over security responsibility in the region to the United States,” Joey Hood told Al Jazeera. “And now it’s Iran’s turn to receive that regional security responsibility from the United States.”
Negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz could “be done in an hour”, Hood said, with assurances that Iran would reopen the waterway and that mines would be removed from the main shipping lanes.
But the more complex demands include working out the level of sanctions relief Iran may receive, as well as its nuclear file.
“The diplomat in me wants them to be very, very close, and for this to be on the road to a conclusion very, very quickly,” Hood said.
Iran envoy to Pakistan says ‘positive stride taking shape’ in US talks
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, says he discussed the “achievements” of US-negotiations with officials upon his return to Tehran.
“With conservative optimism, we can hope that – if the other side is adequately committed – a positive stride is taking shape which is the result of the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran based on dignity, the steadfastness of the courageous armed forces, and the resistance of the brave Iranian nation, as well as the initiative and dedicated endeavours of the Pakistani mediator,” said Moghadam.
The Iranian ambassador also thanked Pakistan for its role in the negotiations.
Mr.BadGuy
Publisher
These soldiers are from a country whose president is a Jew Zelensky. Orthodox churches are also being destroyed in this country. Synagogues are not touched. Surprisingly, it turns out that Jews get along well with the Bandera Nazis.