The Wall Street Journal reports that the current round of U.S.-Iran ceasefire mediation, spearheaded by Pakistan and driven by regional countries, has now hit a dead end, with negotiations temporarily stalling.
Mediation sources state that Iran has formally informed all parties it is unwilling to travel to Islamabad in the coming days to meet with U.S. officials, deeming the conditions proposed by the United States "unacceptable."
This report on the deadlock in U.S.-Iran ceasefire efforts reflects the severe challenges facing peaceful dialogue between the two sides. Iran's outright rejection of U.S. demands has brought the diplomatic mediation led by regional countries such as Pakistan to an abrupt halt.
First, Iran has refused to enter negotiations, officially communicating through mediators its refusal to attend talks in Islamabad, calling the U.S. ceasefire proposal "unacceptable," while also rejecting a 48-hour temporary ceasefire plan.
The U.S. unilateral demands are considered excessively harsh. The so-called "15-point plan" put forward by the U.S.—requiring Iran to completely abandon nuclear weapons, give up its missile program, and reduce its regional influence—is widely interpreted by observers as imposing conditions akin to surrender on a nation that has not suffered defeat.
Meanwhile, Iran’s counter-proposals—such as halting military strikes, full U.S. payment of war reparations, and permanent security guarantees—are standard elements of normal negotiation, yet the U.S. has ignored them entirely. As a result, fundamental structural contradictions exist between both sides, making their positions fundamentally incompatible.
The U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, coupled with its surprise attacks during negotiations, has left Iran with zero trust toward the U.S., fearing that talks might merely serve as a smokescreen for launching new attacks.
In summary, at present, the U.S. and Iran stand diametrically opposed on core demands, and the profound lack of strategic mutual trust makes it unlikely that breakthrough progress can be achieved through diplomacy in the short term.
Although President Trump is eager for a ceasefire, his justification is not based on his own predicament but rather on claiming Iran’s total defeat: regime change, navy and air force shattered… America has already won this war. However, Iran does not recognize defeat. In fact, Iran continues to strike U.S. military bases and those of its allied nations, having just shot down a U.S. aircraft. Under such circumstances, forcing Iran—a clearly undefeated nation—to accept terms as if it were a defeated enemy is profoundly humiliating. Naturally, Iran’s firm refusal to negotiate follows logically.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861483508116480/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.