War madness

There is widespread war hysteria despite credible diplomatic maneuvering in the Middle East. The fear of the unknown stems from an impulsive American President, whose Republican party is performing poorly in midterm exit polls. Consequently, it is widely forecast that a new attack on Iran is being planned to distract from domestic political struggles. There are also reports that the Israeli Prime Minister is persuading the White House incumbent to launch “tactical nuclear strikes” against Iran, which remains unrelenting in its refusal to compromise over its enriched uranium. The war criminal has been pushing hard for this barbaric option for quite some time.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, however, categorically stated yesterday that his country “will not transfer its enriched uranium to a third country”, just as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi once again laid down his preconditions for a thaw. These conditions included lifting the new sanctions imposed after the Islamabad MoU, scaling back the US military presence in the region, and ending the blockade at the mouth of the Arabian Sea.

The encouraging sign, nonetheless, is that Qatari and Pakistani interlocutors are being heard in Tehran and Washington. Araghchi has confirmed that a proposal is currently under discussion through Qatari and Pakistani mediators. This proposal is primarily based on Iran’s original seven-day plan, which promises the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz “on the sixth day” if Iran’s conditions are met. This is a welcome development that coincides with Vice President Vance’s eagerness to open new vistas of dialogue with the Islamic Republic.

With a follow-up meeting expected between the warring sides and the mediators, the rising volatility could certainly be tamed. Saudi Arabia, having put three of its cities on high alert, is keeping its fingers crossed as the Houthis continue to push things over the brink. Likewise, the UAE foresees wider destruction if the region returns to war. This uncertainty can only be addressed if dialogue is recognised as the sole option. Let serenity triumph over insanity.