United States and Iran have ended without agreement peace talks in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, after a single marathon day of direct negotiations unprecedented since the Islamic Revolution, insufficient for two of the great international antagonists par excellence to manage to save at once more than 40 years of rivalry, and which once again leaves the prospects for putting an end to the open conflict of the past in limbo. February 28now under a precarious ceasefire with uncertain future.
Although several have been achieved “understandings” In some respects, the confrontation on key issues such as control of the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear program They have blocked any attempt at an agreement.
Both delegations have already left the Pakistani capital without clarifying whether there will be a new meeting. Furthermore, it could be said that the tension remains more than evidentbecause the American president donald trump threatened to control the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran denies this. Although yes, they have a clear message for Trump: “If you choose war, we will fight”.
The red lines that separate the United States and Iran
In these conversations it has been possible to clearly see what the red lines that separate the United States and Iran. The first point refers to ‘nuclear zero’ demanded by Washington. The delegation led by Vance, following the doctrine of Donald Trump, arrived with a non-negotiable demand: a firm commitment that Iran will not seek nuclear weapons now or in the future.
In this first scenario, two positions should be highlighted: that of the United States and that of Iran. The first demand dismantle the tools that allow Iran to make a nuclear bomb: “We need to see a real commitment and we have not seen it,” the vice president said about it J. D. Vance during a press conference after the dialogue.
For its part, Iran insists that the success of the process depends on the counterparty refraining from “excessive demands and illegal requests”demanding that he accept the “legitimate rights and interests” of the Iranian country.
The Strait of Hormuz
Another of the main issues discussed during the talks is the control of the Strait of Hormuz. What on paper was a technical condition for the truce announced last Wednesday, became the main military obstacle on the table.
Thus, while the United States seeks a Immediate, commercial and unrestricted reopening and threatening to open the highway “soon,” Iran has its greater pressure advantage. “There will be no changes in the strait unless the US accepts a reasonable agreement,” said an Iranian source in statements to the Mehr agency.
The Lebanon factor
The offensive that Israel has in parallel against Lebanon also comes into play. As the delegations sat in Islamabad, the country leading Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained its raids and bombings in Lebanon, which left at least the same day the truce was announced 357 dead and more than 1,200 injured.
Here Iran demands that the United States commitment to stop Israeli aggression on all fronts, especially in southern Lebanon and Beirut. Instead, Washington insists that the two-week ceasefire It is limited to the direct conflict between both countries and does not link Israel’s military actions in Lebanon.
Will there be a new round of negotiations?
To the big question of whether there will be new negotiations between both countries to reach an agreement, the reality is that it becomes a complex scenarioespecially after the United States Central Command has announced that it is going to close all Iranian ports starting this very Monday.
In any case, the “final offer” Washington was clear: “We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding, which is our final and best offer,” Vance said. For its part, the Iranian Government is open to continuing consultations with “friendly and neighboring countries”like Pakistan.
