By Ochiaka Ugwu
The United States and Islamic Republic of Iran peace talks holding in Islamabad, Pakistan have come to a stalemate as Tehran accused Washington of excessive demands and unlawful requests.
Iran’s foreign ministry says the talks were “intensive”, and called on Washington to refrain from “excessive demands and unlawful requests”
The spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Esmaeil Baghaei, in a post on social media described the talks as “intensive”, but says the success of ongoing negotiations “depends on the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side”.
Baghaei also calls on Washington to refrain from “excessive demands and unlawful requests” and to accept Iran’s “legitimate rights and interests”.
Among the topics he says are being discussed, were the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, and “a complete end to the war in Iran”.
“We will hear from the US side on the status of the talks shortly as US Vice President JD Vance is planning to offer remarks at a news conference in Islamabad” the post concluded.
Vice-President JD Vance who is leading the US delegations at the peace meeting said the US and Iran have not reached an agreement following high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Vance said he came “in good faith”, but adds the US needs to see “fundamental commitment of will” from Iran to not develop nuclear weapons.
It was reported that the vice-president is now leaving Pakistan with members of the delegation.
US President Donald Trump says it “makes no difference” to him whether a deal is reached and “regardless what happens, we win”
US Central Command says two of its navy destroyers sailed through the Strait of Hormuz as it starts to clear sea mines, but Iran has denied the claim
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said he wants a peace deal with Lebanon that “will last”.
Recall the talks were made possible after Pakistan’s leadership secured a ceasefire deal to end the war that had so much caused tension and economic hardship for the world.
Pakistan had acted as a mediator between Iran and the US over the last few weeks, passing messages between the two, and achieving a two-week ceasefire to give way for peace talks that would end the war.
The peace talks taking place in Islamabad, which Pakistan was mediating and hosting, came as a result of the ceasefire.
Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif said the talks were “to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes”.
Before the ceasefire was agreed, Pakistan reportedly relayed a 15-point US peace plan to Iran, which was rejected by Tehran.
It went further again in its peace move, when its foreign minister, Ishaq Dar flew to Beijing to seek Chinese backing for a five-point peace plan to end the conflict.
Pakistan’s efforts yielded great results as it is hosting both the US and Iranian delegations in Islamabad to a peace talks that is expected to end the war and return the world to economic stability.
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