Given the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and gruesome killings in Gaza, which are already exacting a heavy toll on global stability, the world can ill afford another war.
It is against this backdrop that recent development between the United States and Iran, where both parties are signaling an interest in dialogue, over nuclear programme presents a significant and welcome step.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his country’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States on the basis of equality.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump also expressed a preference for direct talks, even suggesting that alternative to diplomacy might be military action.
However, Pezeshkian rightly asked, “If you want negotiations, then what is the point of threatening?
” This question cuts to the heart of the issue: diplomacy cannot and should not be held hostage to threats of force.
Dialogue must be pursued without preconditions or the looming shadow of military intervention.
The 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear programme represented the hope that diplomacy could be a bridge to resolving one of the most dangerous geopolitical flashpoints.
Trump’s decision to abandon the deal in 2018 was a great setback and a sheer disappointment.
The statement from Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, declaring Iran’s readiness for war, is a stark reminder of how fragile the situation remains.
It is in this charged atmosphere that any negotiation will be complex, difficult and time-consuming.
Yet, the willingness from both sides to return to negotiating table offers a crucial opportunity for peace.
For meaningful progress to be made, both sides must approach the talks with flexibility and an open mind.
President Trump’s speeches during his election campaign, where he pledged to avoid wars, now stand as a crucial test of his leadership.
We expect that he will honour this commitment and seek avenues for dialogue that could lead to de-escalation.
The United States has a responsibility to lead the way toward peace.
The prospects of reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme may seem distant, but the 2015 deal stands as a testament to the possibility of diplomacy succeeding.
It showed that even in the most fraught of situations, nations can find common ground and work toward peaceful solutions.
