Iranian state media reported that the Iranian delegation has arrived\nin Islamabad ahead of peace negotiations with the United States on\nSaturday (11\/04).<\/p>\n
The Telegram channel of Iran\u2019s state television station stated that\nthe delegation is led by Iran\u2019s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad-Bagher\nGhalibaf.<\/p>\n
He is accompanied by Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi;\nSecretary of the Defence Council, Ali Akbar Ahmadian; Central Bank\nGovernor, Abdolnaser Hemmati; and several Iranian parliament\nmembers.<\/p>\n
Trump stated that the US has received a 10-point proposal from Iran,\nwhich he described as \u201ca workable basis for negotiation\u201d.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, also mentioned a 15-point\nproposal.<\/p>\n
What are the issues that could hinder negotiations between the two\ncountries?<\/p>\n
Lebanon<\/p>\n
A two-day holiday has been announced in Pakistan\u2019s capital ahead of\nthe negotiations between Iran and the US. (Reuters)<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s attacks on Iran\u2019s ally in Lebanon, the Hezbollah group,\ncould derail the negotiations even before they begin.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe continuation of these actions will make the negotiations\nmeaningless,\u201d wrote Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on X.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur fingers remain on the trigger. Iran will never abandon our\nbrothers and sisters in Lebanon,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Donald Trump said Israel\u2019s actions in Lebanon will now be \u201csomewhat\nlower in scale\u201d, and the US State Department stated that direct talks\nbetween Israel and Lebanon will take place in Washington next week.<\/p>\n
Whether those steps will satisfy Iran remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n
Only a few ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the\nceasefire between the US and Iran began. (Reuters)<\/p>\n
Another topic that could derail the negotiations from the outset is\nthe crucial shipping route for tankers, the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Donald Trump said Iran is doing a \u201cvery poor job\u201d in allowing ships\nto pass through the strait, even though he had previously said it would\ndo so.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the deal we have!\u201d he said in a post on Truth Social,\naccusing Iran of being \u201cdishonourable\u201d.<\/p>\n
Very few ships are passing through. So far, hundreds of ships and\naround 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in Gulf waters.<\/p>\n
On Thursday (09\/11), Iran announced the establishment of a new\ntransit route, north of the two main shipping traffic separators.<\/p>\n
Iran said the new route is necessary \u201cto avoid the presence of\nvarious types of anti-ship mines in the main traffic zone\u201d.<\/p>\n
Amid reports that some ships that have managed to pass in recent\nweeks have paid fees of US$2 million (Rp34.2 billion), Trump warned that\nIran \u201chad better not charge fees to tankers\u201d.<\/p>\n
Nuclear<\/p>\n
The nuclear topic is arguably the biggest and certainly the\nlongest-standing source of dispute between the US and Iran.<\/p>\n
Trump said he launched Operation Epic Fury to ensure Iran \u201cwill never\nhave nuclear weapons\u201d.<\/p>\n
Iran says it has never sought to build a bomb\u2014a claim viewed with\ngreat scepticism by most Western countries. As a signatory to the\nNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran emphasises that it has the right\nto enrich uranium for civilian purposes.<\/p>\n
The 15-point plan reportedly proposed by Trump demands that Iran \u201cend\nall uranium enrichment on Iranian territory\u201d.<\/p>\n
However, when asked about the nuclear issue earlier this week,\nDefence Minister Pete Hegseth only said Iran \u201cwill never have nuclear\nweapons or the capability to pursue a path to weapons\u201d.<\/p>\n
It took international negotiators years to reach the 2015 Joint\nComprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which addressed this complex topic\nin great detail.<\/p>\n
Are both sides ready to discuss a new deal?<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s Allies in the Middle East<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s network of regional allies and proxies\u2014Hezbollah in Lebanon,\nHouthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and various militias in Iraq\u2014have given\nTehran influence in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
This allows Iran to pursue what is often called \u201cforward defence\u201d in\nits long-standing disputes with Israel and the United States.<\/p>\n
Since the Gaza attacks began in October 2023, the network that Iran\ncalls the \u201cAxis of Resistance\u201d has been continuously targeted.<\/p>\n
One of them, the regime of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, is\nno longer in power. However, Israel views the alliance, dubbed the \u201cAxis\nof Evil\u201d, as an existential threat that needs to be eradicated\nentirely.<\/p>\n
At a time when Iran\u2019s economy is under pressure, many Iranians also\nwant to see their government reduce spending on foreign allies and spend\nmore funds on domestic interests.<\/p>\n
However, so far there are few signs that Iran is ready to let go of\nits allies.<\/p>\n
Sanctions Relief<\/p>\n
Iran has been subjected to a string of debilitating international\nsanctions for decades. Iran demands that the US and various countries\nlift the sanctions as part of a peace deal.<\/p>\n
On Friday (10\/04), Iran\u2019s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf\nsaid that around US$120 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be\nreleased before negotiations begin.<\/p>\n
According to him, this is one of two previously agreed steps (the\nother being a ceasefire in Lebanon).<\/p>\n
However, a statement on 7 April from Pakistan\u2019s Prime Minister\nShehbaz Sharif, announcing a two-week ceasefire, made no mention of\nreleasing frozen assets. It is unclear what agreement Qalibaf is\nreferring to.<\/p>\n
Is the Trump administration willing to make such a major concession?\nThat remains to be seen.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-iran-negotiate-in-islamabad-these-5-issues-hindering-talks-1775875847", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }