Pakistan mediation could bring Iran to talks ‘within 48 hours’, former Pakistani ambassador says

[0:00] Ambassador Jamil Khan is a senior Pakistani diplomat who previously served as ambassador [0:04] to the UAE, Libya, and Malta. And he joins us now live from Islamabad. Ambassador Khan, [0:09] thanks for being with us here on Al Jazeera. Let me ask you first, from your vantage point, [0:14] where do you think things stand with talks at this hour? The Iranian foreign ministry says [0:19] they won't participate in talks with the U.S. now. Does that indicate to you that they're [0:23] leaving the door ever so slightly open to participation at some stage, perhaps over [0:28] the next few days? Yes, thank you for having me on your show. That's right. In fact, Iranians have [0:35] not said that they are going to completely, you know, walk away from any kind of dialogue in future. [0:41] They said that for now, they are giving it a pause or they are not coming for the dialogue. [0:48] But at the same time, there is a huge development in Islamabad. And I'm also currently in Islamabad. [0:54] And I can see so much of hustle and bustle around the security arrangements. And once I meet my [1:00] colleagues, I find that there are all the preparations and there are indications that [1:06] the Iranians would agree after, of course, after getting some assurances that the blockade, [1:15] about the blockade and about their cargo ship, which has been seized. [1:18] And I don't, in my view, in fact, and if I connect the dots after having met so many people around [1:26] here, I also had my some contacts there in Iran because I've served in the United Nations. [1:33] So some of my buddies there. So having all those factors in mind and plus what is the development [1:39] now, the Americans, J.D. Vance, Donald Trump, as you have already broken that news, [1:46] the Al Jazeera, that he's about to land. Just a few hours from now, J.D. Vance is going to land [1:52] in Pakistan. And at the same time, Pakistani leadership, both the military leadership as well [1:58] as the political leadership, they are really, they have intensified further their communication [2:05] with Iran and with the United States as well. And with that intensification of the negotiation, [2:11] and we also know that the chief of defense forces, Field Marshal, Sayyid Asim Munir, [2:20] recently spent three days in the war zone area, which is Iran. And he had met, you know, [2:28] multiple layer of the leadership, both in the military side, the IRCG, as well as the political [2:35] leadership. So that rapport which the chief of defense forces has with the Iranians, and he has [2:44] been holding in past such positions in the military, which naturally gives him an advantage that he would [2:52] know his counterparts and he would know the ranks and files of their decision makers. So having that in [2:58] mind, I can very conveniently draw the conclusion that the hiccup which had been created because of [3:06] this cargo ship seized by the naval blockade or by the United States Navy, I think that's going to be, [3:15] if there are some assurances, and that's what I am anticipating, that there's some assurance, [3:21] assurances would be given by the United States, and of course, through Pakistan and Pakistan's [3:27] mediators. And once it's conveyed to Iran, and all these things are speeding up very fast. [3:35] And once I evaluate all these factors which is emerging, I can very conveniently draw the conclusion [3:42] that then coming about 24 to 48 hours maximum, you'll find that some of these hiccups would be [3:49] addressed, and Iranian delegation would be here. And I just heard Donald Trump, you know, [3:55] on this point that, yeah. [3:58] Yeah, I'm sorry to interrupt you. I just wanted to pick up on you're talking about this intensification [4:03] of contacts to try to ensure that this meeting goes ahead. Look, we know how deeply Pakistan has [4:09] been involved in getting these talks off the ground and mediating, getting a second round scheduled. [4:13] If a second round does indeed happen, and you're saying you believe it will happen, [4:17] what do you think the main sticking points will be going forward based on the discussions you're [4:21] having with officials there? [4:24] No, as I said, that the last hiccup which just emerged yesterday evening, the naval blockade and [4:33] the cargo ship which has been seized, that, to my mind, is not really that a bigger problem. [4:40] That assurance is once given that. But the previous 10 points which Iranians had given, [4:46] and that was further fine-tuned, the first and foremost point was Lebanon. And Donald Trump, [4:51] very smartly, I would say, that he had addressed that point, though indirectly, because he has to [4:58] cater for Israel also. And he tried to really, in my assessment, he tried to really address [5:05] both sides, the Iranian and Israeli side, by just having a separate dialogue between Lebanon and [5:13] Israel. Whereas Iran wanted that in this package, in this negotiation, in this dialogue, [5:20] previously held. And now the forthcoming dialogue, the first point which they had given was the [5:26] Lebanon. Well, they had included Yemen also, Iraq, but Lebanon was the priority because Lebanon, [5:33] Hezbollah, as we know, the kind of relations with IRGC, hands with Nezbollah, and some deep-rooted [5:41] relations. So they wanted that on the agenda. The second point with J.D. Vance, while he was going [5:47] back from the, after having done, after having conducted the negotiation, he was very clear that [5:55] he raised only one point out of those 15 points which the United States had given. And that was the [6:02] enrichment part of it. And I will draw your attention on that enrichment part, that Iranians [6:08] have always been taking the, drawing the strength from the international law. And international law, [6:15] the NPT, Iranians say that, okay, that's our sovereign right. My personal understanding is that [6:21] the sticking point is the 450 enriched material, which is 60%, and its disposal as to how, you know, [6:30] that framework is drawn, whether it is kept in Iran or like last time in 2015, Russians had [6:37] facilitated the diluted and diluted that enriched material, brought it back. So some kind of a framework [6:46] could be made on that count. But the basic problem of the state of Hormuz then, that now Iran [6:55] does not want to be, to have the same arrangement what it had previously. Now Iran wants to, again, [7:04] Iran is taking the, drawing the strength from the international law, the United Nations laws of IC, [7:11] IC, and Article 17, 19, and 24 are very clear about it. And I guess they are going to refer to these [7:18] articles. And because of which, probably they will now have the regulation under Article 24 of the [7:25] state of Hormuz. And that is going to be ironed out during this dialogue, in my view, and as per my [7:33] understanding. But otherwise, almost all the points, and by the way, there are reputation of the point, [7:39] you know, once they talk about the proxy, they talk about the Lebanon, Iraq, and then again, [7:43] they talk about that there should be complete seizure of the strikes on Hezbollah. Again, [7:49] they say that the entire region should have all the conflict should be resolved. So, and from the [7:58] 15 point, which the United States had advanced, there are six points which are common in it, [8:04] and they all relate to the enrichment program. So, and if we just make set and subset of these points, [8:12] basically, you will find that Americans have four points altogether, because there's a repetition in [8:17] some form or the other. And 10 points of Iran, again, there are some repetitions. So, previously, [8:23] also, there was hardly any soaring point except for the enrichment. And this time, the state of Hormuz [8:32] would also, I think, would be discussed. And while we are talking, there are news going on, and your [8:39] correspondents here would really update you on that, about the arrival of Yedi Vance, what kind [8:45] of preparation is there. I'm sorry to interrupt you. We just have to be mindful of time. Thank you so [8:50] much for joining us. That's Ambassador Jamil Khan, senior Pakistani diplomat, who previously served as [8:54] ambassador to the UAE, Libya, and Malta. Thank you so much for being with us here on Al Jazeera. [8:59] Great to get your perspective. Great to be with you on your show. Thank you.