File photo: U.S. President Donald Trump
The United States has reportedly proposed two new conditions ahead of the second round of peace talks with Iran to be held in Pakistan on Thursday.Washington wants a full, unrestricted reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Israel Haim reports.
According to reports, the Americans insist on a reciprocal stance. In other words, if the Iranians prevent ships and tankers from passing through Hormuz, then their own ships and tankers will not be allowed to pass either. The report quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the United States also hopes that the Iranian delegation will obtain full authorization from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before the two sides reach an agreement.Two senior IRGC officials, Ahmed Vahidi and Ali Abdullahi, reportedly did not allow Pakistan’s political delegation to provide answers to the Americans. Afterwards, Pezeshkian reportedly asked Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation, to take a stand “to save Iran from total economic collapse.”Meanwhile, U.S. and Iranian delegations are scheduled to return to Pakistan later this week to resume a second round of talks to end the war that broke out on February 28.However, U.S. officials did not immediately confirm the plans, and Iranian and Pakistani officials discussed the plans on condition of anonymity.A source involved in the talks said a proposal had been sent to Washington and Tehran asking the two delegations to return to Islamabad to resume discussions. A date has not yet been set, but the two countries could return as early as this weekend.An official at the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad said: “The next rounds of talks may take place later this week or early next week. But so far, nothing has been finalized. “Earlier, a senior Iranian source told Reuters: “No specific date has been set and the delegation will remain open from Friday to Sunday.”A senior Pakistani official said that Islamabad has reached out to Iran and “we have received a positive response and they will be open to a second round of talks.”The official and another Pakistani source said Islamabad was in communication with both sides about the timing of the next round of talks, which could take place at the end of next week.
