Pathways to peace

NEGOTIATIONS to hammer out the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement took nearly two years before a breakthrough was achieved. Therefore, expecting Iran and the US to reach a deal that can end the war launched by America and Israel, while covering complicated issues such as reparations and freedom of navigation in the Gulf, within days is unrealistic.

While the global economy is reeling from the war, particularly the Iranian and American blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, and people around the world desire a swift resolution, these matters take time. That is why it would be wrong to label Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Islamabad on Saturday a failure. Although US President Donald Trump refused to send his emissaries after Mr Araghchi left Pakistan for Muscat, the game is far from over and hectic efforts to salvage the diplomatic process continue.

For one, it is a welcome sign that Iran’s top diplomat returned to Pakistan after his visit to Oman, and reportedly before heading to Moscow. While Mr Trump said he didn’t want to send his people to talk “about nothing”, he did admit that the Iranian proposal shared with Pakistan contained “a lot but not enough”. The fact is that if both sides continue to talk, even indirectly, a fair agreement can be reached. In this regard, Pakistan’s role must be praised, as the government is working overtime to ensure that the parleys don’t collapse, and to prevent a war that can throttle the global economy for a long time.

The US should not entertain any illusions about an Iranian surrender. The Iranians have a high threshold of pain and have managed to resist intense American and Israeli bombardment, decades of sanctions, as well as the ongoing US blockade of their ports. Therefore, it would be wise for Washington to lift the blockade as a peace gesture, and give Tehran genuine sanctions relief. It should also promise non-aggression, particularly by restraining its belligerent sidekick Israel from launching further attacks on sovereign states.

Mr Trump says his country holds “all the cards”. That assertion is debatable. As for Iran, though it has used the Strait of Hormuz as leverage, it should similarly consider ending its blockade in order to allow the global economy to start limping back to normalcy. While few expect a comprehensive agreement between the US and Iran to be reached over the next few days, at least a framework for peace can be agreed to.

American officials should help in the effort by persuading Mr Trump and his abrasive war secretary to stop threatening Iran via social media or press conferences. Sometimes wayward public remarks alone can torpedo painstaking backchannel peace efforts. This mistake must be avoided.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026