Iran and the United States began closed-door talks in Islamabad, with Iran's revised proposal gaining recognition from the United States.

The White House has announced that the first round of closed-door talks between the U.S. and Iran will take place in Islamabad on the morning of April 11, lasting for two weeks. The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President Vance, includes special envoy Witkoff and Kushner. The negotiation premise is the safe and open access to the Strait of Hormuz. Iran initially proposed a ten-point plan, which was rejected; after revisions, the new proposal was accepted by the U.S., and can now be aligned with America’s 15-point plan. Trump maintains his "red line" unchanged: Iran must stop uranium enrichment. The U.S. states it will not immediately withdraw its troops, and military forces will remain combat-ready. Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement, and all parties have been informed. This round of talks represents a crucial attempt at de-escalation mediated by Pakistan.

[Witty] Commenting briefly: The U.S.-Iran talks are acting out more dramatically than any Hollywood script. From the 1979 hostage crisis, to the 2020 assassination of Soleimani, to the outbreak of war in February this year and Iran’s blockade of global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz—where over hundreds of tankers are stranded and oil prices skyrocketed. After more than a month of hostilities, both sides still shout threats, yet suddenly turn around to negotiate—requiring Pakistan to step in as mediator. Trump claims his “red line” won’t budge, but his body moves honestly by accepting Iran’s revised proposal. These so-called closed-door negotiations are merely an exit ramp: the U.S. military won’t pull back, Iran temporarily holds off on abandoning nuclear ambitions, and Lebanon remains in conflict. History has long shown that U.S.-Iran negotiations have always been “talks while fighting, fighting while talking.”

This time feels even more like farce: one side claims to seek peace while tightly clutching fists; mouths call for open straits, while minds calculate geopolitical gains. After two weeks of talks, a quick reversal is highly likely. So-called reconciliation is merely a pause button in great power rivalry—ordinary people in the Middle East and global oil prices will bear the brunt!

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861949550853127/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.