This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge.
After having heard the same line many, many times before – and yet with no result (instead, more often the opposite of sliding into further conflict and escalation) – Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday welcomed the “progress” made between the United States and Iran in indirect negotiations.
CNN and other mainstream outlets are reporting on this “hint” that an interim deal is taking shape (again). But given the pattern and track record of such reporting, which has consistently proven premature, elusive, and often downright false, it’s hard not to have cynicism and to see much of this as but crude propaganda aimed at keeping energy prices down.
“Both sides welcomed the progress achieved through sustained diplomatic engagement and expressed hope that these efforts will soon lead to a durable understanding and peaceful resolution,” according to Pakistan’s readout of a Foreign Ministry call with the European Union’s chief diplomat.
via AFP
And yet, the message out of Iran does not suggest positive momentum or the beginnings of any kind of deal taking shape – though it remains that anything is possible (depending on how much either side is willing to ‘give up’ their respective red lines and firm positions).
Iran is currently saying the Strait of Hormuz is ‘firmly’ under IRGC control – an assertion the Pentagon has vehemently rejected, with Iranian Admiral Habibollah Sayyari saying it continues to wield “power” over the Gulf region.
“The west of the Strait of Hormuz, the strait itself, and the Persian Gulf are under the firm control of the IRGC Navy,” Sayyari was quoted as saying in state media. “No vessel can enter without our permission.” Another commander also asserted that “We have had and continue to have power in the region” – batting down Trump’s words which say Iran’s military has been utterly defeated and decimated at this stage.
But again, returning to the optimistic Friday reports, which may have no basis in reality whatsoever (time will tell), CNN is going so far as to report on the venue of a signing ceremony for a Tehran-Washington Memorandum of Understanding:
A signing ceremony for a memo of understanding with Iran would most likely be held in Geneva, Switzerland, three sources told CNN on Friday. That signing could take place as early as Sunday, according to a person familiar with plans.
That comes after US President Donald Trump on Thursday touted a “great settlement” that could resolve the war with Iran, suggesting it would be finalized in the coming days. Trump said he anticipated a signing ceremony for the document soon, potentially in Europe, to be attended by Vice President JD Vance. However, Iranian officials have yet to confirm an agreement has been reached.
Two sources with knowledge of the diplomatic talks said the signing ceremony would be held in Geneva – not far from where Trump and a US delegation will attend a G7 summit next week in France. One of those sources said a signing ceremony would mark the start of “phase two” of diplomatic talks, as officials work through the implementation of the memo of understanding.
Multiple sources said the memo is being called the “Islamabad declaration,” in recognition of the key mediating role Pakistan played. But nothing has been confirmed, and an Iranian source suggested the Austrian capital Vienna was also being considered.
But the nature of the MoU would likely just involve committing to a framework basis on which both sides would get back to the negotiating table, and not yet necessarily a final, lasting peace deal. Iranian state media on Friday did seem in agreement that there’s been some level of progress on at least getting back to formal talks based on an MoU, per Bloomberg:
Iran’s semi-official news agency Mehr said the countries are negotiating an agreement in which the strait would be reopened within 30 days under Iranian arrangements. Under a draft agreement, the US would have no role in the future management of the strait and Iran would make no commitment to transfer control or restore conditions that existed before the US and Israeli attacks, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has meanwhile rejected media speculations regarding an agreement and reaffirmed Iran’s resolute and principled stance, per Mehr. He stated: “Textually, the text has almost been finalized in its major parts. The problem is that the contradictory positions of the United States have always caused turbulence and disruption in this process.”
In terms of even rhetoric alone, the two sides still seem very far apart:
President Trump on Thursday insisted the U.S. was nearing a deal on peace talks with Iran, pulling back from his threats just hours earlier to launch more military strikes and seize Iran’s oil infrastructure.
Trump said Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had signed off on the plan, which he said would be completed in coming days, paving the way for additional talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
Tehran said it hadn’t decided. “Iran hasn’t reached a final conclusion about the agreement,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, according to state media. “We will announce it when we reach a conclusion.”
More hurdles are in the details:
Iran’s IRNA news agency reports the issue of US sanctions on Iran will be left for after the signing of the memorandum of understanding and a 60-day deadline for conducting peace negotiations.
“Iran does not offer any commitments in the memorandum regarding the nuclear issue, and the other party does not commit to lifting the sanctions,” it said.
“If Tehran decides to sign the memorandum, some of its frozen funds will be released immediately, and the rest gradually.”
Tehran reaffirms its position in the following fresh statement:
“Contrary to what is being circulated by Western media, Iran will not commit to relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz. The only matter referred to in the memorandum of understanding is the return of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz after the end of the war,” Iran’s state media reported.
“The main objective of signing the memorandum of understanding is to end the war on all fronts”, it added.
All of this comes during a week that started with Iran and the US renewing a state of active fighting, and with Gulf states coming under Iranian ballistic missile attack, in retaliation for the latest waves of major US Tomahawk strikes against Iran.
Still, Bloomberg and others are reporting the following: “US and Iran Nearing a Peace Deal Around G7 Meeting Next Week.” What can be said except we’ve been here before, and time will tell. Did Trump cancel yesterday’s planned strikes because a deal is really finally being forged?
Read the full article here
