Islamabad (GNP) :- Former Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, China and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan on Monday said that the emerging agreement between the United States and Iran represents a significant opportunity for regional stability, but warned that continued military actions in Lebanon and elsewhere could undermine diplomatic progress and jeopardize prospects for a durable peace in the Middle East.
Commenting on the evolving situation in the region, Sardar Masood Khan observed that Israel and the United States do not necessarily share identical strategic objectives. He noted that while Washington appears increasingly inclined toward a negotiated settlement with Tehran, Israel has sought to reshape the regional security landscape through military operations extending across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and other neighbouring areas.
He stated that recent developments have created what he described as a “new strategic reality” in the region, where prolonged military operations and territorial control have altered the political and security environment. According to him, the regional response has been markedly different from previous crises, with many Arab states remaining restrained or divided due to differing threat perceptions and strategic priorities.
Sardar Masood Khan noted that even if a Memorandum of Understanding is finalized between Washington and Tehran, significant challenges will remain. He pointed out that Israel has continued to insist on a number of conditions, including restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities, missile capabilities, and regional partnerships. However, he emphasized that issues related to Iran’s conventional deterrence capabilities and regional alliances remain highly contentious and are unlikely to be resolved easily.
He observed that Iran considers its missile and drone capabilities essential components of its national defence strategy and has consistently signalled that these capabilities are not open to negotiation. This reality, he said, underscores the complexity of future technical negotiations and the limitations of any agreement focused solely on the nuclear file.
Referring to recent military actions in southern Beirut, Sardar Masood Khan expressed concern that such operations risk provoking reactions that could derail the ongoing diplomatic process. He said that attacks carried out at a time when negotiations are approaching a critical stage could be interpreted as attempts to undermine confidence and disrupt the momentum toward an agreement.
He further noted that domestic political pressures in both Israel and the United States continue to shape decision-making. Political constituencies on all sides, he said, remain divided over the terms and implications of a potential agreement, making diplomacy more complicated and fragile.
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Sardar Masood Khan emphasized that despite these obstacles, negotiators from Iran and the United States appear to be closer than ever to reaching a framework understanding. He welcomed reports that intensive consultations are continuing and expressed cautious optimism that a Memorandum of Understanding could be finalized in the coming days.
Concluding his remarks, he stressed that diplomacy remains the only sustainable path to peace. He urged all parties to exercise restraint, avoid actions that could trigger further escalation, and support efforts aimed at achieving a negotiated settlement that promotes regional stability, economic security, and lasting peace in the Middle East.
