Not Indonesia: These Are the Countries Easing the US-Iran Conflict
US President Donald Trump’s statement delaying a strike on Iran’s power facilities is said to be the result of extensive lobbying by several countries. It was not Indonesia, which had offered itself as a peace broker, nor the Gulf states hosting US military bases.
US media outlet Axios reported on Monday that Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, and Oman served as message conduits between Washington and Tehran over the past two days. This report follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement ordering the halt of plans to attack Iran’s energy infrastructure for five days.
Trump linked the suspension to the “success” of negotiations with Iran, although Iran has denied any negotiations are taking place. Axios’ report mentions that the foreign ministers of the three countries held separate talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The discussions were about ending the war and resolving all outstanding issues. We hope to receive a prompt response,” said a source familiar with the details to Axios.
Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, quoting an Iranian source, stated that there is “no dialogue” between Tehran and Washington. The source said Trump’s comments are part of his efforts “to lower energy prices and buy time to execute military plans.”
The Iranian source acknowledged that regional countries have put forward initiatives aimed at reducing tensions. “We are not the party that started this war, and all those demands should be directed at Washington,” it added.
Turkey, Iran’s neighbour and a NATO ally of the United States, has a strong interest in de-escalating the conflict. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has repeatedly announced that they are ready to intervene to mediate between the two countries, although he expressed concerns that Israel, which is also part of the conflict, prefers to prolong it.
Fidan held a phone call on Monday with his counterparts from Egypt and Norway. A Foreign Ministry source said Fidan, Espen Barth Eide from Norway, and Badr Abdelatty from Egypt discussed efforts to stop the war.
Turkey’s top diplomat was also involved in phone diplomacy on Sunday with counterparts around the world, a few days after he joined a meeting of high-level diplomats from Gulf countries regarding the conflict, which has spread across the region.