Analyst says US-Iran diplomatic channel not yet closed

Jakarta (ANTARA) - International relations expert Andrea Abdul Rahman Azzqy believes that the planned peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, set to continue on Thursday (16/4), indicate that diplomacy between the two conflicting nations is not yet closed. “We can see from President Trump’s statements that they are read as a signal that the diplomatic channel is not fully closed. So, the channel is not shut,” said Andrea when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday. However, she noted that the challenges in these negotiations are not simple. Several crucial issues, such as Iran’s nuclear programme, economic interests, and control over the Strait of Hormuz, are cited as the most difficult points to bridge. Beyond these strategic issues, Andrea assesses that the presence of a third party, namely Israel, has the potential to become a disrupting factor in the negotiation process. This refers, among other things, to Israel continuing its attacks on Lebanon amid a temporary two-week ceasefire that is still in effect. “So, if they cannot focus solely on Iran and Hormuz and set aside Israel as a potential failure in negotiations, then the negotiations will remain the same; the outcome will still fail,” she emphasised. Andrea added that the continuation of peace negotiations between the US and Iran is viewed by some analysts as merely an effort to delay the escalation of tensions and not a long-term compromise strategy. “In addition, I have also read some analyses where analysts write that they are optimistic this could be a tactical advantage to delay the escalation of tensions, but not as a strategic compromise between the two countries,” said Andrea. “Something could happen in the next two days,” said Trump in a telephone interview with the New York Post on Tuesday (13/4). In the negotiation process with Iran, Trump referred to Pakistan’s Field Marshal General Asim Munir, who has a strong relationship with the US president, when attempting to mediate the resolution of the Pakistan-India conflict in 2025. “He (Asim Munir) is fantastic and because of that, we will probably go back there,” said Trump.