Fresh efforts at mediation revive hopes for US-Iran climbdown

• Back-to-back Tehran trips by CDF Munir, Omani FM yield progress on key issues
• Despite public brinkmanship, Washington ‘ready to show flexibility’ on economic sanctions if Iran meets ‘certain conditions’, US media reports
• Diplomatic sources point to ‘softer than expected’ sanctions, say Islamabad taking the lead in conveying messages from Tehran to Washington, and vice versa
• Iran seeks return to terms agreed in Islamabad MoU; eyes Hormuz agreement with Oman

ISLAMABAD / WASHINGTON: Progress made during two key visits to Tehran — by Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi — may have opened the first potentially workable pathway towards de-escalation in the Gulf, since the breakdown of the armistice secured through the Islamabad Memor­andum of Understanding (MoU).

Although there has been no clear breakthrough yet, and fundamental differences persist between Iran and the United States, the latest diplomatic activity has brought the political and technical dimensions of the dispute back into focus.

In Washington too, there seems to be a willingness to consider sanctions relief as part of a broa­der understanding with Tehran, provided Iran meets certain conditions.

According to some US media reports, Washington has offered an end to economic sanctions and the naval blockade against Iran in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and halting attacks by Iran-aligned regional groups.

However, the specific terms have not been publicly confirmed by Washington or Tehran.

Importantly, unlike the period following the collapse of the June understanding, when the two sides were largely talking past each other and the crisis was bec­o­ming increasingly militarised, there is a renewed push towards establishing a new mechanism for maintaining the ceasefire.

Observers believe Field Mars­hal Munir’s visit served to reopen channels bet­w­­een Tehran and Washington, through Islamabad.

It is also noteworthy that the Iranian reaction to the visit was unusually positive, with Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy for communications and information at the Iranian president’s office, describing it as “highly fruitful” and saying it had produced “highly valuable diplomatic achievements”.

The CDF’s meeting with Gen Mohsen Rezaei — the Supreme Leader’s representative on the Supreme National Security Council – was particularly significant in testing whether the security side in Tehran was also prepared to join the renewed process.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), too, said the Iranian leadership appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role and sincere efforts” for dialogue and de-escalation.

But Tehran has so far not publicly indicated any readiness to make unilateral concessions to US, rather, the message emerging from the meetings was that Iran remains prepared to return to the understanding formalised under Islamabad MoU, provided Washington first addresses what Tehran considers its violations of the memorandum, and returns to implementing the understanding.

‘Softer than expected’ sanctions

Diplomatic sources in Washington also confirmed that Pakistan’s mediation role is being supported from the top, with Field Marshal Munir remaining in touch with both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, complemented by working-level contacts between US and Pakistani officials.

Asked whether Pakistan had conveyed any US proposals to Iran, sources confirmed that this was the case, adding that Tehran’s proposals have also been relayed to Washington, “along with their comments”.

“So, they are not only facilitating but also [carrying out] mediation, which includes conveying their opinions as well,” sources said.

The description is broadly consistent with reporting by CBS News and The Wall Street Journal, both of which have identified Pakistan as an important conduit between Washington and Tehran.

As evidence of the impact this messaging is having on the Trump adm­in­­istration’s actions, diplomatic sources in Washin­gton pointed to the recent announcement of economic sanctions against Iran.

Although the Trump administration had billed the sanctions as spelling an “economic doomsday” for Tehran, diplomatic sources said: “The restrictions are softer than expected, and also, on the other side, there have been no recent attacks on Gulf states”.

While the Treasury Department has announced new sanctions on 60 individuals, entities and vessels, but the list did not feature any of the Chinese financial institutions thought to be facilitating Iran’s oil trade.

The Iranian position, nevertheless, remains conditional as it continues to regard the Islamabad MoU as the appropriate framework, but wants Washington to demonstrate through concrete action that it is prepared to honour its commitments.

The dispute over Hormuz is, meanwhile, not being treated by Iran as a separate maritime issue rather it has been tied to the issues of sanctions, the US naval blockade and reciprocal implementation of the June understanding.

Hormuz progress

In this context, the progress made in Oman-Iran talks assumes greater significance.

Al-Busaidi’s visit to Tehran produced some forward movement on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides agreeing on a phased arrangement.

As per the joint statement, the understanding between Oman and Iran includes a temporary joint navigation corridor, mine clearance, information exchange and traffic management, while technical discussions would continue on a permanent navigation arrangement.

Al-Busaidi said in a post on X after the meeting that he hoped the countries would “soon announce” the temporary corridor in the strait.

“Future management of the strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course,” he said.

Technical negotiations will continue to determine a “permanent navigational corridor and future administration of the Strait, as well as a mechanism for information-sharing, traffic management, and the provision of relevant navigational and security services”, the earlier joint statement read.

The announcement came as US President Donald Trump repeated claims on Truth Social that “all mines have been removed and/or detonated from within the International Waters of the Strait of Hormuz”, citing the US navy.

“Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed… There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency reported that Washington is beginning to send personnel back to some diplomatic missions in the Middle East that were evacuated or downsized amid tensions with Iran.

The move suggests Washington sees a lower risk of the conflict with Iran escalating in the near term, though some embassies will initially operate below full capacity.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2026