AS Pakistan is making frantic efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table, wild threats and uncalled-for moves and actions are posing great danger to the process aimed at making de-escalation durable.
Despite universal opposition to the move, Washington is proceeding ahead with plans to block the Strait of Hormuz and as a result Iran has warned of giving a befitting response, presenting a big challenge to the possibility of resumption of peace talks and resolution of the issues involved through diplomacy.
There is no doubt that Islamabad talks could not produce an accord between the United States and Iran but all versions of what transpired during negotiations suggest the two sides were very close to signing a deal but a last minute hiccup derailed the process. This, in other words, means progress on most of the contentious issues was positive and differences can be sorted out in the second round for which Pakistan has already started making endeavours to arrange. According to Associated Press, Pakistan is proposing to host the talks again in Islamabad in coming days, before expiry of the ceasefire deadline but odds are there to overcome. The happenings so far on the war front have made it clear that Iran is not receptive to pressure or blackmailing tactics and instead comes with a tit-for-tat response to all provocations. In this backdrop, it is regrettable that the United States has chosen to raise the ante by warning the US forces would destroy any Iranian fast attack ships that approach the American naval blockade of Iranian ports, which came into effect on Monday. This is a highly provocative move with repercussions for ports of the Gulf countries.
It is strange that the US is doing what Iran did after the invasion of the country by the United States and Israel – closure of the strategically located Strait of Hormuz with far-reaching implications for supply and pricing of oil. Now that Iran has eased restrictions following a ceasefire, Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports will discourage navigation through the channel for reprisal by Tehran. Already, there are reports that the reduced levels of traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz has immediately halted, with some turning back after announcement of the blockade by the US. The punitive action against Iran, aimed at choking oil exports and Hormuz levy, is fraught with the danger of resumption of hostilities and thereby spoiling the prospects for resumption of peace talks. This blockade prompted a warning from Iran, which said it would consider any military vessels in the Hormuz a violation of the ceasefire and such a move would put all regional ports in danger.
There is a general impression that continuation of the policy of threats and ultimatums is reflection of frustration on the part of the United States, which could not achieve any of the war targets and has instead become extremely isolated. This is also evident from the fact that except Israel all countries of the world opposed the move with NATO making it clear it will not become party to the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and instead announced its intentions to build a coalition of nations to defend navigation right through the channel. It is, therefore, time to listen to the prudent advice of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who urged the global community to “unequivocally oppose any actions that undermine the ceasefire or escalate the confrontation”, adding priority should be to preserve the hard-won momentum of the ceasefire. The two sides should not indulge in actions that could lead to resumption of hostilities and their escalation to a level where peace process becomes a distant dream.
