What’s Next in the Iran-US Ceasefire Negotiations? Insights from Pakistani Mediators
Iran's Response to US Ceasefire Proposal
Dubai: Iran has communicated its response to the recent ceasefire proposal from the United States through Pakistani intermediaries, expressing a desire for discussions aimed at a permanent resolution to the ongoing conflict, as reported by state media on Sunday.
According to state television, Iran aims to conclude hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon, while also ensuring the safety of maritime shipping routes. The latest proposal from Washington included terms for a ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a rollback of Iran's nuclear ambitions, a topic Tehran prefers to address at a later stage.
The White House has yet to issue a statement regarding Iran's response.
US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, mentioned that President Trump is committed to giving diplomacy every opportunity before reverting to military actions.
On the ground, the fragile ceasefire faced challenges on Sunday when a drone caused a minor fire on a vessel near Qatar, while the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait reported incursions of drones into their airspace, with the UAE attributing the incident to Iran. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and no group has claimed responsibility for the drone activities.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemned the incident as a "dangerous and unacceptable escalation" that jeopardizes the security of maritime trade routes and essential supplies in the region.
Since the conflict escalated with US and Israeli strikes on February 28, Iran and its allied forces have conducted numerous drone attacks.
Iran's Military Readiness
Trump has reiterated his threats to resume extensive bombing if Iran does not agree to terms regarding the reopening of the strait and the limitation of its nuclear program. Since the onset of the conflict, Iran has largely obstructed this crucial waterway, impacting global oil markets.
In retaliation, the US has enforced a blockade on Iranian ports. Recently, the US targeted two Iranian oil tankers that were allegedly attempting to breach this blockade. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy has warned that any aggression towards Iranian vessels would provoke a "heavy assault" on US bases in the region and on enemy ships.
Another contentious issue in the negotiations is the status of Iran's highly enriched uranium. The UN nuclear watchdog has reported that Iran possesses over 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which is a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels.
In a recent interview with state media, an Iranian military spokesperson stated that their forces are on "full readiness" to safeguard nuclear sites where uranium is stored.
"We believe there is a possibility they might attempt to seize it through infiltration or airborne operations," Brig. Gen. Akrami Nia told the IRNA news agency.
Most of Iran's highly enriched uranium is likely stored at the Isfahan nuclear facility, as noted by International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi last month. This site was targeted by US-Israeli airstrikes during the 12-day conflict last year and has faced less severe attacks this year.
Pakistan, which facilitated direct talks between the US and Iran last month, continues to seek a mediating role. In a rare public statement, Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to aiding in the resolution of the conflict. Additionally, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has communicated with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Drone Attacks on Gulf Nations
The UAE's Defence Ministry reported the interception of two drones, attributing the assault to Iran.
In Kuwait, Defence Ministry spokesman Brig Gen Saud Abdulaziz Al Otaibi confirmed that hostile drones entered Kuwaiti airspace early Sunday, and forces responded "in accordance with established procedures." The ministry did not specify the origin of the drones.
The Qatari Defence Ministry reported that a drone targeted a commercial vessel arriving from Abu Dhabi at a southern port, igniting a small fire that was quickly extinguished. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre indicated that the incident occurred 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Doha, without providing details about the ship's ownership or origin, and no responsibility has been claimed.
Numerous attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf have occurred over the past week.
South Korea has released preliminary findings from an investigation indicating that two unidentified aerial objects struck the stern of the South Korean-operated vessel HMM NAMU approximately one minute apart while it was anchored in the Strait of Hormuz last week, resulting in an explosion and fire. A foreign ministry spokesperson stated that officials have yet to ascertain who was responsible.