Despite Trump’s stance, it suggests that back channels are still active to prevent a worst-case scenario
ISLAMABAD:
Initial proposals exchanged between Iran and the US via Pakistan have failed to break the deadlock as Islamabad now awaits a revised set of proposals from Tehran seeking an end to the war that has already disrupted oil supplies and threatened the global economy.
Amid growing uncertainty, the messages from both Iran and the US are mixed.
US President Donald Trump posted a mocked photo of himself holding a gun and wearing aviator sunglasses on his Truth Social platform, along with a warning to Iran.
“NO MORE MR. NICE GUY,” reads the caption on the photo, along with an image of the American flag.
Trump also had a message for Iran in an early morning post, writing: “Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal. They better wise up soon! President DJT.”
Despite Trump’s stance, it suggests that backchannels are still active to prevent a worst-case scenario.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday for the first time gave more details about Pakistan’s mediation efforts and indicated that a response from Tehran was awaited.
The prime minister told the government that Iran’s foreign minister, after traveling to Islamabad twice and then to Oman and Russia, spoke to him.
“I spoke to him (Araghchi) on phone and he assured me that detailed meetings had been held and after consultation with the management, a response would be given as soon as possible,” Shehbaz added without divulging further details.
The prime minister’s remarks suggested that a detailed response has yet to be received from Tehran on how to end the war.
Amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza and worsening humanitarian crisis, Pakistan told the UN Security Council that it stands for universal respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes and remains actively engaged in promoting diplomatic avenues towards peace and stability in the Middle East.
“The root cause of instability in the Middle East remains the unresolved issue of Palestine and the continued Israeli occupation of the Arab countries,” said Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, in a debate on the situation in the Middle East.
“Not the expansionist ambitions; not the illegal wars, it is the holiday of the occupation, for the realization of a Palestinian state, the two-state solution, which is the only viable framework for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”, he added.
In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad, the Pakistani envoy, said that more than 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since the ceasefire was announced, underscoring both the scale of the crisis and the sensitivity of the situation. “It is important to fully respect and consolidate the ceasefire and ensure sustained, unimpeded and scaled-up humanitarian assistance.”
