Pakistan and Iran near nuclear compromise with US support

US President Donald Trump Visits Pakistan Ahead of Potential Deal with Iran

President Trump departed the White House on Thursday to visit Las Vegas, but before leaving, he made a statement about his ongoing talks with Iran. He expressed optimism that a deal could be reached soon, stating that Iran had agreed to give up its enriched uranium stockpile and other key demands.

Trump also mentioned that he might consider visiting Islamabad himself if an agreement is signed there. However, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presented a different picture, saying that messages are being exchanged through Pakistan but emphasizing that enrichment is a sovereign right for Iran.

Asif Durrani, a former Pakistani diplomat, commented on the situation, stating that framing it as a gap between the two sides was misleading. He noted that every country has the right to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and that Iran has repeatedly stated its desire for civil nuclear use within the framework of international agreements.

Seyed Mojtaba Jalalzadeh, an international relations analyst, added that the reality is more complex than public statements suggest. He emphasized the need to avoid simplistic binaries and instead consider the multilayered nature of the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, held high-level meetings in Tehran on Thursday, including a meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The situation remains unclear, with Trump and Iran presenting different pictures of the same negotiations.

The US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement with Iran in 2018, reimposing sanctions and limiting the country’s nuclear program. A deal between the two countries could potentially be reached soon, but the details remain unclear.

Source: Al Jazeera