Khaberni - The Wall Street Journal reported, quoting US administration officials, that President Donald Trump told his aides he is ready to end the military campaign against Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed, while a Pakistani official confirmed that the success of his country's mediation depends on the decisions of the parties to the conflict.
The American newspaper considered that Trump's readiness to end the war would likely strengthen Tehran's strong grip on the waterway and postpone the complex operation of reopening it to a later date.
According to the officials, Trump and his aides concluded in recent days that any mission to open this vital passage would extend the conflict beyond the timeframe he had set, which is from four to six weeks.
Accordingly, the officials indicated that Trump decided that the United States should achieve its main objectives of weakening the Iranian navy and its missile stockpile, then end the "current hostilities", while exerting diplomatic pressure on Tehran to resume free trade flow.
If that path fails, Washington will push its allies in Europe and the Gulf to take the lead in reopening the strait, according to officials who pointed out that there are also military options that the president could take, but they are not an immediate priority for him.
These developments coincide with Trump's warnings that he would order the destruction of Iranian power plants and oil wells if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz.
Continuing mediation
In this context, the Pakistani ambassador to Washington, Ridwan Saeed Sheikh, confirmed that the success of his country's mediation in ending the raging war between the United States and Iran depends on the decisions of the parties to the conflict.
Sheikh, in remarks to Fox News America, said his country continues its role as a mediator, pointing out that it is up to the conflicting parties to make decisions that ensure the success of the negotiations. These statements came after the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqaei described the American proposal, which consists of 15 points, as "mostly exaggerated, unrealistic and illogical demands".
Baqaei, at a press conference in Tehran yesterday Monday, noted that American officials continuously change their positions and issue contradictory statements.
Regarding the negotiations conducted by Pakistan with neighboring countries, Baqaei said, "The efforts of regional and neighboring countries in the field of peace and security are commendable, but Pakistan's meetings with neighboring countries are within the framework of its own plans, and we are not part of this framework."
Trust crisis
Meanwhile, CNN quoted US and Gulf officials saying that "it is not clear to American officials whether the Iranian regime personalities - who are receiving their messages through Pakistan and Turkey - have the ultimate authority to approve any peace agreement, let alone implement it."
CNN also quoted a knowledgeable source saying that some officials in the Iranian regime, in contrast, do not trust the United States; after previous diplomatic rounds were aborted due to American attacks.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that no negotiations had been conducted with the United States during the thirty-one days of the war, confirming that what happened was a request for negotiation accompanied by American proposals, which reached Tehran via some mediators, including Pakistan.
On the other hand, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in special remarks to Al Jazeera, confirmed the existence of messages and direct talks between parties in Iran and the United States through mediators, adding that the goals of the United States in Iran are clear and will be achieved within weeks, not months.
For its part, the White House said that negotiations are continuing with Iran and are going well, and what is rumored publicly differs from what is said in private meetings.
