MM Report
LONDON: Reports in British media indicated that US President Donald Trump stood ready to join proposed peace talks in Islamabad, provided a broader agreement emerged with Iran. According to a Reuters dispatch, discussions were slated for a second round of negotiations in the Pakistani capital, with Trump poised to participate either in person or by video link.
The talks, potentially as soon as this week, carried an air of urgency, though their precise timing lingered in doubt. These developments unfolded against a tense backdrop, as a temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran neared its end on Wednesday. Trump had made clear there would be no extension, heightening the stakes for the diplomatic push.
Washington projected quiet optimism that the Islamabad gathering would proceed on schedule, yet shadows of doubt persisted. Iran had signaled hesitation after recent maritime clashes involving its vessels and US forces, incidents that ratcheted up mutual suspicions in the volatile Gulf waters.
A senior Iranian official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, acknowledged that Tehran continued to weigh its involvement, but stopped short of a firm commitment. This reticence underscored the fragility of the process, where old grievances and fresh provocations threatened to derail progress.
Pakistani officials, playing host to the prospective summit, had remained tight-lipped, though sources suggested Islamabad’s neutral ground appealed to both sides weary of more polarized venues. The prospective Trump appearance marked a potential pivot in a conflict that had simmered for months, blending economic sanctions, proxy skirmishes, and naval standoffs.
