(Image source from: AP)
US President Donald Trump is able to join the upcoming peace discussions with Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, this week either "in person or online," if an agreement is reached, as stated by the news agency Reuters. Referring to a source from Pakistan, the article noted, "Progress is being made, and the discussions are set for tomorrow," which is Wednesday. The two-week truce between Tehran and Washington is scheduled to end on Wednesday, and Trump has indicated that it is very unlikely to be prolonged. The United States is also confident that the peace talks with Iran will proceed in Pakistan, despite Tehran's warnings of possibly not attending after the US captured an Iranian vessel near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. However, according to a senior Iranian official, Reuters reported that Tehran is "considering" its engagement in the discussions, even though they previously dismissed the idea, but emphasized that no final choice has been made.
While there is hope from both parties, there are still major challenges and uncertainty as the ceasefire deadline nears. Trump seeks a deal to avoid further increases in oil prices and stock market disruptions, but he has demanded that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Tehran aims to use its control over the Strait of Hormuz to negotiate with Washington in a way that prevents the war from restarting and reduces sanctions, while still allowing for its nuclear program to continue. Trump has threatened that the US would demolish all bridges and power facilities in Iran if they do not accept his terms, following a recent trend of such warnings. Iran has countered that if the US attacks its civilian infrastructure, it would target power stations and desalination facilities in neighboring Gulf Arab countries. Pakistan, which is taking the lead in negotiations between Tehran and Washington, is getting ready to host the talks, even though there is still doubt about whether they will happen. Almost 20,000 security officials have been placed throughout Islamabad, according to officials. US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Pakistan on Tuesday for the discussions with Iran, Axios reported on Monday, citing American sources.
