“Indirect contacts continue despite harsh tones from both sides,” says source
Pakistan will continue its mediation efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement to the Middle East conflict, without “immediate danger” of a resumption of war between the United States and Iran, several government sources close to the process said. Anadolu Monday.
“Pakistan sees no immediate danger from a resumption of war despite the current impasse, as Washington and Tehran earnestly seek a diplomatic solution to end the conflict,” a source said. Anadolureferring to US President Donald Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s response to Washington’s plan to end the war.
Furthermore, according to the sources, Trump does not want his upcoming visit to China to be overshadowed by the resumption of hostilities.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Sunday that he had read the response from Iranian “so-called representatives” and called it “completely unacceptable.”
Iran, in return, said Trump’s rejection of its response “doesn’t matter.”
Islamabad, the sources add, will continue its mediation to “break the impasse despite the inflexibility publicly adopted by both parties on certain issues, notably Tehran’s nuclear program.”
“Indirect contacts continue despite harsh tones from both sides, with several regional countries, including Qatar and Egypt, helping Islamabad in its mediation efforts,” a source said.
‘No significant change’ in Iran’s position on nuclear issue
Although Pakistan still hopes for a resumption of direct negotiations between the two sides, there is no “significant” change in Iran’s previous position on the nuclear issue in its response to the US proposals, according to the sources.
Tehran’s response, which was transmitted to the United States via Islamabad last week, focuses primarily on an “immediate” end to the war, and “there is little chance of reaching an agreement.” [in it] in terms of Washington’s fundamental demand regarding Iran’s nuclear program,” the sources added.
Iran, according to the sources, has proposed “broader and separate” talks on the nuclear issue, given its “complexity”.
However, Tehran had “reiterated” its “will” to stop uranium enrichment for a period of five years, while rejecting Washington’s request for a 20-year moratorium, according to the sources.
The sources added that Iran had “once again” rejected the US demand to dismantle its underground nuclear facilities, insisting that it had no intention of developing nuclear weapons.
Tehran, they said, had also offered to begin nuclear negotiations within a month after the two sides agreed to end the war.
Iran, according to the sources, had reiterated its desire to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the end of the American blockade of its ports.
Tehran also reiterated its demands for the release of its billions of dollars in frozen accounts, compensation for war damages and the lifting of US and international sanctions against the Islamic republic, the sources added.
Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8, followed by critical talks in Islamabad attended by high-level delegations from both countries on April 11 and 12.
However, neither side was able to reach an agreement to end the war.
Since then, the two warring sides have exchanged formulas and counter-formulas to reach common ground and resume a second round of direct talks to end the conflict that has already disrupted global energy supplies and daily life in the region.
