Even as a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the 15-day ceasefire, as Israel continues its unabated bombing of Lebanon, the delegations of the United States and Iran arrived in Pakistan on Friday. The negotiations will be held in Islamabad on Saturday. The exchange is expected to be very intense given both parties’ contradictory claims on the points of negotiation. There is very little hope that any breakthrough will be immediately achieved.
Many analysts believe that Iran will not compromise on its control of the Strait of Hormuz or on its demand to extend the ceasefire to Lebanon, which it claims was part of the 10-point framework agreed upon for the negotiations. The framework includes a demand for immediate relief on primary and secondary sanctions, as well as the release of its idle economic assets.
The United States, under pressure from the growing economic impact and fear of recession worldwide due to the restricted supply of oil and gas, badly needs a deal.
