Iran steps up diplomacy as foreign minister heads to Moscow for talks

[0:00] Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi is heading to Moscow [0:02] for talks with President Vladimir Putin [0:04] as Tehran steps up diplomatic efforts [0:07] to try and end the war with the United States. [0:09] Arachi has been on a regional tour since Friday, [0:11] we've stopped in Oman and in Pakistan [0:14] and consultations with Gulf and regional partners. [0:17] He's also held calls with counterparts in Qatar, [0:20] in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. [0:22] Meanwhile, Trump has cancelled plans to send his envoys to Pakistan, [0:25] saying that a new proposal from Tehran was not good enough. [0:28] Just a little while ago, Arachi posted on X [0:32] and said he was appreciative of my gracious hosts in Oman. [0:37] Important discussions on bilateral matters and regional developments. [0:41] As only Hormuz literal states, [0:43] our focus included ways to ensure safe transit [0:47] that is to benefit of all dear neighbours and the world. [0:51] Our neighbours are our priority. [0:54] Earlier, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaydi [0:57] released a similar statement following his meeting [0:59] with Iran's Foreign Minister, saying, [1:00] He had a good discussion on the Strait of Hormuz. [1:03] He went on to say, [1:04] As literal states, we recognise our shared responsibility [1:06] to the international community [1:08] and the urgent humanitarian need to free the seafarers [1:11] held for far too long. [1:13] He also said that much diplomacy is required [1:16] and practical solutions to ensure lasting freedom of navigation. [1:21] Al-Migdad Al-Busaydi is life for us in Tehran. [1:25] So first up, Al-Migdad, what is Iran expecting [1:29] from these visits to Oman and to Russia? [1:35] Yes, indeed. [1:36] Abbas Ar-Akja and his team have been encircling and travelling [1:40] and inactive diplomacy actually shuttled between capitals here [1:46] in the region, starting from Islamabad, [1:47] then head to Moskot and then again stopping in Islamabad [1:53] and he will visit Moskau tomorrow. [1:56] So this is what we call here an active diplomacy [1:59] from Iran's Foreign Minister and his team [2:01] that they are trying to say that we are open to diplomacy. [2:06] We are trying to gain a regional support from our partners [2:10] and especially when it comes to Oman and Moskot, [2:14] we know that they have a good history with them [2:17] as a strategic ally, a strategic partner, [2:21] especially when it comes to the negotiations [2:23] and the past negotiations around, [2:26] they were mediators between Tehran and Washington. [2:31] And also when it comes to Moscow tomorrow, [2:34] some analysts here speak about strategic relation [2:40] between Moscow and Tehran. [2:44] And as they said, they want a regional support. [2:47] They are trying to demonstrate [2:50] and consolidate their presence here in the region. [2:53] And as you said, we have just heard from Abbas Ar-Akja. [2:57] He just posted on his account on X. [3:00] He speaks about important discussions on bilateral matters [3:04] and regional developments as only Hormuz laterally states. [3:07] Our focus included ways to ensure safe transit. [3:10] That is to benefit all dear neighbors and the world. [3:14] Our neighbors are our priority. [3:16] The bottom lines here and between the lines here, [3:19] that the Strait of Hormuz is being one of the main issue. [3:23] He transferred his perspective. [3:25] He spoke about this matter, [3:27] especially when it comes to the blockade [3:29] and to the escalation, the back and forth escalation [3:32] between the United States Navy and IRGC Navy. [3:34] We have seen in the past few days [3:36] that both sides are seizing vessels. [3:40] And so this is one of the important issues [3:42] that Abbas Ar-Akja tried to transfer [3:44] through the regional partners. [3:46] And with this active diplomacy, [3:48] what's been the reaction within Iran [3:51] to the latest development? [3:52] Actually, the reaction here is we can call it [3:59] there is a support. [4:01] Sometimes we know that President Brizashkian [4:05] and his team and also many of officials here [4:09] saying that we are open to dialogue, [4:12] we are open to negotiate. [4:14] But at the same time, there is a deep mistrust [4:18] and there is a condition, precondition, [4:20] especially when it comes to the pressure imposed [4:23] by the United States Navy on the Strait of Hormuz. [4:27] And also they need the trust from Washington [4:31] to go forward. [4:33] And also at the same time, [4:34] we know that there is a cautious diplomacy [4:36] from Iranians. [4:38] They are not engaged in direct negotiation [4:42] for the past round of talks. [4:45] But at the same time, they are trying to say [4:48] we need a good ground or a good environment [4:51] before engaging in any direct or indirect talk. [4:54] At the same time, in the street, [4:55] we saw that we hear voices of uncertainty. [4:59] People try to say that we are in the middle of no peace, no war. [5:05] So the uncertainty is shaping the air here. [5:07] So overall, the message is clear. [5:10] Iran tried to say that we are open. [5:12] And also we are open to negotiate. [5:16] But whether, the big question remains, [5:19] whether this leads to a breakthrough [5:21] or another round of negotiation [5:23] or another round of deadlock, [5:24] this will prevail in the next days. [5:28] All right, that's a picture from Tehran, [5:30] Al-Migdad Al-Ruhaid. [5:31] Thank you. [5:33] Let's hear now from Zaman bin Javed, [5:34] who's been following the latest developments [5:36] from Islamabad. [5:39] Diplomacy is not dead. [5:40] It's a process which is going to take its time [5:42] and involve all actors. [5:43] That is what we are being told here in Islamabad, [5:46] as the Iranian foreign minister [5:48] has made a quick stop [5:50] to apprise the Pakistani leadership, [5:52] which has been pivotal [5:53] in bringing both sides together. [5:55] And he's on his way to Russia, [5:58] where he's going to have further meetings. [6:00] In the last 24 to 48 hours, [6:02] there's been a flurry of diplomatic activities, [6:04] not just what the U.S. president said [6:07] about putting his envoys out of the equation [6:09] who were expected to arrive in Pakistan, [6:11] but also with the Iranians. [6:13] The Iranians, right after those long consultations [6:16] with the Pakistanis, went to Oman, [6:18] where they've met the Sultan, [6:20] the Iranian foreign minister met his Omani counterpart, [6:23] but then there was a flurry of phone calls. [6:26] The Iranians have spoken to the Qataris, [6:29] the Saudis, the Egyptians, as well as the French, [6:32] and we believe there have been some communication [6:34] with the Russians as well. [6:35] That's where he is headed towards. [6:36] So it appears that whatever happened, [6:39] according to one diplomatic source, [6:41] became a catalyst that there needs to be [6:45] a permanent end to hostilities. [6:48] And that is what we're being told here in Islamabad, [6:50] that we're inching towards, [6:52] a framework of sorts which provides a background [6:56] with which all of these sides can come to an agreement, [7:00] not just the Iranians and the Americans, [7:02] but essentially the Gulf countries as well. [7:05] You've been hearing from various Gulf capitals [7:08] that the situation warrants them be included [7:12] in whatever the aftermath of the situation is going to be. [7:15] They don't want a repeat of what happened in 2015 [7:18] under the JCPOA, where they felt they were left out. [7:20] So it appears that all of this is being built towards a deal. [7:25] The Pakistanis are still hopeful [7:26] that there will be a second round time, [7:29] participants, and the details still not clear. [7:33] But the diplomacy is happening. [7:36] The levers are being pulled. [7:37] The wheels are turning. [7:39] And we're still getting hopeful signs from the Pakistanis [7:42] that they will be able to mediate between them [7:45] so that there is a permanent and an end to this conflict, [7:49] which is acceptable to all sides. [7:52] Osama bin Javed al-Jazeera, Islamabad. [7:54] Okay, let's re-examine the sticking points [7:56] between the US and Iran and exactly what they are. [7:59] Tehran is demanding an end to what it calls [8:01] aggression and targeted assassinations, [8:03] also seeking guarantees against future attacks [8:05] and reparations for war damages. [8:08] Tehran also calling for an end to fighting on all fronts, [8:11] including those involving its allied groups, [8:13] and it wants its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz recognised. [8:16] Iran has rejected a 15-point list sent by President Trump. [8:21] That was in late March. [8:22] The US media say that list includes Iran dismantling [8:25] its nuclear facilities and promising to never develop nuclear weapons. [8:30] The US is also calling on Tehran to limit the range, [8:32] a number of ballistic missiles it has, [8:35] to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz [8:37] and to end its support for regional allies. [8:40] So let's take this on with Mark Kimmett now. [8:42] He's a retired US general and a former Assistant Secretary of State [8:45] for Political and Military Affairs. [8:46] General Kimmett, welcome back. [8:47] Thank you. [8:48] So first up, Abbas Arachi, Iran's foreign minister, [8:51] flitting about doing this shuttle diplomacy. [8:54] And he was talking about his trip to Oman, [8:56] saying that he was appreciative of his trip, [8:58] and said that, talking about his neighbours, his literal states, [9:02] our focus included ways to ensure safe transit [9:04] that is of benefit to all dear neighbours and indeed the world. [9:09] And then he said, our neighbours are our priority. [9:12] Sort of a conciliatory tone there from Arachi. [9:14] I'm not sure it's conciliatory as much as it's a bit of a charm offensive [9:18] that he's going on in order to persuade countries other than his own [9:24] that they ought to side with the Iranians in this entire discussion. [9:29] No doubt in those discussions, painting America as the great evil [9:33] without noting the fact that they are asking for tribute to, [9:40] for transit through the Gulf and declaring sovereignty over that. [9:44] Well, especially with Oman. [9:46] Oman kind of doesn't want to see somebody sovereign over the Strait of Iran. [9:51] They have a bilateral agreement with Iran now to share the effort. [9:57] The, another idea, of course, is non-combat naval solutions [10:00] to try and reopen the Strait again. [10:02] There's precedence for this back in the 80s, the tanker wars, I think it was. [10:06] Yep. [10:06] Tell us about that and how that might be applied to the situation now. [10:11] Well, in the backdrop of the Iran-Iraq war, [10:13] that devastating war between those two countries in the 80s, [10:17] there was an attempt by both sides to cripple the economy of each other's countries. [10:23] What better way than to go after the oil resources flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz? [10:29] The United States at that time, which was not a belligerent in this war, [10:34] agreed to re-flag the Kuwaiti tankers and escort them through the Strait of Hormuz. [10:43] At that time, the United States was not a belligerent, was not a party to the conflict. [10:47] And so the decision had to be made by either Iraq or Iran or both, [10:53] did they want to drag the Americans into the war? [10:55] So by providing that shield, we took the risk of drawing America into the war, [11:02] but neither Iran nor Iraq took that upon themselves. [11:06] There is a difference today, of course, isn't there? [11:08] Because the US is a belligerent. [11:10] Well, and that's exactly why there is so much talk about an alliance effort, [11:15] separate from the United States, number one, by those who are not in the war, [11:20] and more than likely, the Iranians would not want to drag them into the war. [11:25] And number two, they're far more self-interested in getting those products [11:29] out of the Strait of Hormuz than the energy-self-sufficient United States. [11:35] Like the UK, for example? [11:36] Like the UK, Germany, France, India, and China. [11:40] All right. [11:41] And we've got now, finally, 40 nations led by the UK and France [11:46] are exploring, but only exploring potential for this. [11:49] Why has it taken so long for them to get involved, do you think? [11:52] Well, I think much of it goes to the fact that they say they're not partied to this conflict, [11:58] they weren't advised on this conflict, they didn't want this conflict. [12:01] But the subtext behind that is they've been treated so horribly by Donald Trump [12:06] over the past couple of years, a combination of repudiations, insults, [12:12] and in many ways attempts to drive the Allies to put far more of their money into defense, [12:20] some of it which is reasonable. [12:22] But the combination of all that, the totality of all that, [12:26] has really strained the relationship between the United States, United Kingdom, [12:31] particularly France, Spain. [12:33] And so, at the time that the Americans come hat in hand for help, [12:37] in a bit of schadenfreude, they're saying, no, we're not going to help. [12:42] Now they realize there is a challenge not only to their relationship with the United States, [12:48] but to their own populations, as they see the price of gas, [12:52] petrol at the pump, going up enormously. [12:56] And the recognition that petroleum is not the only thing that comes out of the strait. [13:00] Fertilizer comes out of the strait. Helium, which is necessary for other products, [13:04] comes out of the strait. [13:06] And there could be, their inaction could be collateral to a humanitarian disaster [13:11] as a result of this. [13:13] This notion of compelling Iranians back to the negotiating table, [13:18] to the negotiating table, by the sheer presence of this huge force, [13:24] does that work in a situation like this, [13:27] where Iran does still have the capability to strike back? [13:30] Well, the United States did not get what it wanted at the negotiating table, [13:36] walked away from it and said, if we can't negotiate a solution, we will compel a solution. [13:41] I think, unfortunately, the 46 years practice that the Iranians had of withstanding sanctions, [13:49] resilience, high costs, [13:51] we found that the military solution resulted in a military success, [13:59] but that military success did not translate into strategic success. [14:03] The Iranians said, we're going to outlast you. [14:06] We know how to resist. [14:10] We're not trying to win. [14:12] We're just trying to resist. [14:13] And we win by not losing. [14:15] And we have patience. [14:17] We know Americans don't. [14:18] All right. [14:19] We'll leave it there. [14:19] General Mark, come in. [14:20] Thank you so much. [14:21] Thank you. [14:21] Thank you.