ISLAMABAD \/ WASHINGTON(National Times)- Progress made during two key visits to Tehran \u2014 by Pakistan\u2019s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi \u2014 may have opened the first potentially workable pathway towards de-escalation in the Gulf, since the breakdown of the armistice secured through the Islamabad Memor\u00adandum of Understanding (MoU).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although there has been no clear breakthrough yet, and fundamental differences persist between Iran and the United States, the latest diplomatic activity has brought the political and technical dimensions of the dispute back into focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Washington too, there seems to be a willingness to consider sanctions relief as part of a broa\u00adder understanding with Tehran, provided Iran meets certain conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to some US media reports, Washington has offered an end to economic sanctions and the naval blockade against Iran in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and halting attacks by Iran-aligned regional groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the specific terms have not been publicly confirmed by Washington or Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Importantly, unlike the period following the collapse of the June understanding, when the two sides were largely talking past each other and the crisis was bec\u00ado\u00adming increasingly militarised, there is a renewed push towards establishing a new mechanism for maintaining the ceasefire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Observers believe Field Mars\u00adhal Munir\u2019s visit served to reopen channels bet\u00adw\u00ad\u00adeen Tehran and Washington, through Islamabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is also noteworthy that the Iranian reaction to the visit was unusually positive, with Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for communications and information at the Iranian president\u2019s office, describing it as \u201chighly fruitful\u201d and saying it had produced \u201chighly valuable diplomatic achievements\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The CDF\u2019s meeting with Gen Mohsen Rezaei \u2014 the Supreme Leader\u2019s representative on the Supreme National Security Council \u2013 was particularly significant in testing whether the security side in Tehran was also prepared to join the renewed process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), too, said the Iranian leadership appreciated Pakistan\u2019s \u201cconstructive role and sincere efforts\u201d for dialogue and de-escalation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Tehran has so far not publicly indicated any readiness to make unilateral concessions to US, rather, the message emerging from the meetings was that Iran remains prepared to return to the understanding formalised under Islamabad MoU, provided Washington first addresses what Tehran considers its violations of the memorandum, and returns to implementing the understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Softer than expected\u2019 sanctions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diplomatic sources in Washington also confirmed that Pakistan\u2019s mediation role is being supported from the top, with Field Marshal Munir remaining in touch with both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, complemented by working-level contacts between US and Pakistani officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked whether Pakistan had conveyed any US proposals to Iran, sources confirmed that this was the case, adding that Tehran\u2019s proposals have also been relayed to Washington, \u201calong with their comments\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, they are not only facilitating but also [carrying out] mediation, which includes conveying their opinions as well,\u201d sources said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The description is broadly consistent with reporting by CBS News and The Wall Street Journal, both of which have identified Pakistan as an important conduit between Washington and Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As evidence of the impact this messaging is having on the Trump adm\u00adin\u00ad\u00adistration\u2019s actions, diplomatic sources in Washin\u00adgton pointed to the recent announcement of economic sanctions against Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the Trump administration had billed the sanctions as spelling an \u201ceconomic doomsday\u201d for Tehran, diplomatic sources said: \u201cThe restrictions are softer than expected, and also, on the other side, there have been no recent attacks on Gulf states\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the Treasury Department has announced new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels, but the list did not feature any of the Chinese financial institutions thought to be facilitating Iran\u2019s oil trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Iranian position, nevertheless, remains conditional as it continues to regard the Islamabad MoU as the appropriate framework, but wants Washington to demonstrate through concrete action that it is prepared to honour its commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dispute over Hormuz is, meanwhile, not being treated by Iran as a separate maritime issue rather it has been tied to the issues of sanctions, the US naval blockade and reciprocal implementation of the June understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hormuz progress<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this context, the progress made in Oman-Iran talks assumes greater significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Busaidi\u2019s visit to Tehran produced some forward movement on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides agreeing on a phased arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As per the joint statement, the understanding between Oman and Iran includes a temporary joint navigation corridor, mine clearance, information exchange and traffic management, while technical discussions would continue on a permanent navigation arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Busaidi said in a post on X after the meeting that he hoped the countries would \u201csoon announce\u201d the temporary corridor in the strait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFuture management of the strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Technical negotiations will continue to determine a \u201cpermanent navigational corridor and future administration of the Strait, as well as a mechanism for information-sharing, traffic management, and the provision of relevant navigational and security services\u201d, the earlier joint statement read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The announcement came as US President Donald Trump repeated claims on Truth Social that \u201call mines have been removed and\/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz\u201d, citing the US navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed\u2026 There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency reported that Washington is beginning to send personnel back to some diplomatic missions in the Middle East that were evacuated or downsized amid tensions with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move suggests Washington sees a lower risk of the conflict with Iran escalating in the near term, though some embassies will initially operate below full capacity.(National Times)-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD \/ WASHINGTON(National Times)- Progress made during two key visits to Tehran \u2014 by Pakistan\u2019s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi \u2014 may have opened the first potentially workable pathway towards de-escalation in the Gulf, since the breakdown of the armistice secured through the Islamabad Memor\u00adandum of Understanding (MoU). […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":131921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131920","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n