Washington (GNP): US President Donald Trump has said negotiations with Iran to end the war are “going fine”, adding that Washington is in no hurry to resume offensive operations.
Speaking to reporters at his Florida residence on Saturday, Trump said the US had already largely destroyed Iran’s military capabilities and nuclear programme. He added that one or two sites still needed to be dealt with, which he said could be done quickly.
He referred to Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear complex, though the Iranian government denies that any nuclear work is carried out there. Trump also cautioned that Iran is “not very reliable”, even as he described the talks as on track.
His remarks followed a more measured line from Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier on Saturday. Rubio said Trump had not made a decision on fresh strikes and that Washington remained open to a diplomatic solution, though he warned that military objectives could be achieved if the US chose to pursue them.
The warnings come at a sensitive political moment. Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei cautioned the US and Israel against launching a new offensive, after threats that strikes could resume once elections in both countries are over. Trump had earlier suggested an attack could come after this week’s US midterms, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a “historic, one-time opportunity” to topple the Iranian government. Israel voted in a general election on Tuesday but has yet to form a new government.
Diplomacy is moving in parallel. Qatari mediators held discussions with Iranian officials in Tehran on Friday before the talks shifted to Doha on Saturday, coordinated through regular contact with Washington. Iranian negotiators were in the Qatari capital on Sunday for a third consecutive day of talks aimed at securing a deal to end the war. Pakistan and Qatar are both mediating between the warring parties.
Also Read: Chairman Senate Stresses stronger Pak-China parliamentary cooperation
The pressure to reach a settlement is rising because of the economic fallout. Since the war began in February, Tehran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries around one-fifth of global oil consumption. Iranian state television reported that a ship crossing the strait struck a mine and caught fire on Saturday, while the Revolutionary Guards said three oil tankers had been halted after “incidents” or mine strikes. Iran has also warned it could sever undersea cables in the strait.
The resulting spike in global energy prices has made the war unpopular among the American public ahead of the polls, adding to the urgency in Washington.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the nuclear file is now the focus of the talks. Araghchi said, “Mediators have presented proposals concerning the nuclear dossier.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
