Saber-rattling and talks

PAKISTANI civil and military leaders have worked to bring the US and Iran back to negotiations. They hope to address the international economic crisis and turn the current ceasefire into a lasting agreement. However, the standoff persists. Both sides remain uncompromising and unwilling to make concessions. As a result, the anticipated second round of dialogue did not occur, despite preparations in Islamabad. The optimism about a constructive outcome to the ongoing talks between Iran and the US was dashed after President Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit by his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, to Pakistan on April 25, 2026, to meet with Iranian officials. Subsequently, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also left Islamabad for Muscat. Although the stalemate continues, both sides refrain from using kinetic force to advance their objectives, signaling a potential de-escalation of the conflict. This development provides relief broadly, except for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the primary perpetrator of the war between Iran and the United States. It also suggests that behind-the-scenes negotiations, facilitated by Pakistan between Iran and the United States, are ongoing. After deploying massive firepower against Iran for 39 days, the US has employed the indirect strategy of a naval blockade of Iranian ports to economically cripple Iran. Indeed, a naval blockade creates economic problems for Iran, but it is equally disturbing to the United States’ allies. In this economically interdependent world, the longevity of the blockade would harm US economic interests as well. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil consumption flows, is destabilizing the world’s economy. Hence, it has become a focal point of global anxiety and everyone is demanding that it go back to the international waterway. Pakistan has been facilitating and mediating between Iran and the US in a smart way. One of the decisive factors in