Away from the media limelight, Pakistan is working silently to break the ongoing deadlock between the US and Iran, focusing on finding a new formula for a long-awaited agreement on the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear programme, two Pakistani government sources familiar with the matter told Anadolu on Wednesday.
“Both sides are actively engaged in back-channel diplomacy, conveying formulas and counter-formulas through Pakistan to reach an agreement,” a source said, adding that the current negotiations are focused on the nearly closed Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue.
The sources, however, did not offer details on the formulas from either side, saying that Pakistan’s focus is to find a “middle way” on the two simmering issues.
Washington and Tehran are currently deadlocked on a fresh Iranian peace proposal conveyed by Pakistan following two visits to the capital Islamabad last week by Abbas Araghchi, Iranās foreign minister.
Demands from both sides
The proposal offered to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its blockade of Iranian ports.
Tehran has also suggested that talks on its nuclear programme should be postponed for the next round of discussions, an offer President Donald Trump “has not so far shown an interest in accepting,” according to sources.
“Nothing (in the formulas) is definitive as exchanges are ongoing,ā said the source.
āHopefully, the two sides will reach common ground soon,” the source added, saying that Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and army chief Field Marshall Asim Munir are “personally engaged” in the ongoing backdoor diplomacy to break the stalemate.
The two have been actively participating in the mediation process, as Munir directly spoke to Trump several times in recent weeks.
“Iran’s current stance is that since the nuclear issue is a complex one and (it) requires long and comprehensive talks, the Strait of Hormuz matter should be discussed in the first phase, which is easier to resolve. The US side, however, doesn’t agree with the proposal, and wants an agreement on both issues concurrently,” the source said.
“But Trump is still discussing the proposal with his advisers,” they added – Slim chances of war resuming Pakistan hosted the first round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran on April 11-12 but failed to produce an agreement to end the war.
The talks followed a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8, which was later extended by US President Donald Trump.
