US–Iran talks end after 14 Hours

[0:00] Ukrainian media describe the U.S. as making excessive demands in the talks, while Iran [0:05] insists on protecting what it calls its military gains from the war. [0:09] It's also demanding a ceasefire in Lebanon be part of the negotiations. [0:14] Let's go straight to Al Jazeera's Osama bin Javad, who is in the Pakistani capital, near [0:18] the venue of the talks, and we're just hearing, Osama, talks have finally concluded after [0:23] a marathon number of hours. [0:25] What exactly are you hearing? [0:26] Absolutely, Maleen. So it's been a historic day, and those marathon talks that have now [0:38] concluded for some time now, we know that it has been extended by a day, but we're hearing [0:44] from some Iranian sources that they have concluded after 14 hours, and it has been the case the [0:50] entire day that they're exchanging expert texts, which is giving people hope that there is [0:56] already a wider framework that has been agreed upon, and now those experts are going through [1:02] the minutia of how actually to go forward on this. [1:05] Just to recap what we saw in the last 14 to 16 hours is the Iranian delegation arriving, [1:12] then the American delegation arriving, the Pakistanis meeting them separately, and then, [1:17] despite all of the differences that we heard, especially about the ceasefire in Lebanon and [1:22] about the Strait of Hormuz, they went into those negotiations. The Iranian continue to insist [1:27] about the unfreezing of their assets. And now, because these talks have been going back [1:33] and forth, there's been very little information that has come out of that room, but the drip, [1:38] drip of information that we heard from our sources, there's been lulls, there's been highs, [1:42] but the overall atmosphere has been described as positive. To discuss that further, we have with [1:49] us a retired general, Zahid Mahmood, who is a security and defense analyst. You've been monitoring [1:54] this the entire day. It appears that now there's going to be a break for a few hours as daylight is [2:01] about to break here in Pakistan. What is your takeaway from this? Has there anything that has been [2:07] achieved now? I think the continuity, and this is a very positive sign, to be very honest. And this [2:13] also shows that both sides are sincere in approaching to some kind of agreement, or they would like to [2:22] have to lower down the temperatures of this war. So this also reflects, clearly reflects that they [2:28] are willing to get to some settlement. These are, but of course, there are few things which are very [2:35] strategic in nature, like HOMIS is strategic in nature. Nuclear, we have already have a history [2:41] on that. So probably these are very important thing. And then the Iranian especially, the way [2:47] they have attacked themselves, they are talking about the larger piece in the region. They are [2:52] talking about the non-state actors also, other organizations, another part of this, you know, [2:57] this region. So they're talking about the comprehensive piece. That is the largest scheme for them. [3:04] And of course, they have, people are also expecting that after fighting, are standing with a lot of [3:11] courage, taking all this, what all has happened to their militaries, their Navy, their Air Force. Now, [3:17] this is the time if the national resolve has to be converted into the meaningful outcomes. So they're [3:23] conscious of that. That's why President President Kahn is talking about the people of Iran. And probably [3:28] they will stand by, and he's talking about that we will take these aspirations into the talks, and then we [3:34] will stand by with whatever are the outcomes of the talk. And that will have the whole of the nation, [3:41] you know, approval to that. [3:42] Well, the U.S. President is saying that he's already won the war. He's destroyed their Navy, [3:47] obliterated their capability to do any air defenses. It appears that the maximalist positions have not [3:55] changed so much during the day. So you're saying that it is a positive sign that they've gone into day two [4:02] of these talks. What gives you hope that there will be some conclusion? I think these are mostly we should [4:09] not be going further. You know, these are these are speculations. We've even no one is to be very honest, [4:16] very privy to what all has happened inside until unless the whole whole whole thing is out. And we [4:23] understand we know what all are have been decided till the time I will I will I will stay positive [4:30] because this continuity is one sign, you know, and then and then the kind of sport which is coming [4:36] out, the arguments which are coming from back home. They also indicate that they're looking for [4:41] some some some some kind of settlement. Look, to me, I think this is both the both the war infections [4:49] and even Israel, they have reached to the tipping point. Now, I think they want to this. [4:54] Why would you say the tipping point? Because Israel right now has not agreed on a ceasefire in Lebanon. [4:59] Its attacks are continuing in Gaza. There have been the latest statements talk about how they want to [5:05] expand into Syria as well. So it appears that these two sides may have some sort of an agreement, [5:11] but as Pakistani officials have been telling us that there are detractors in Tehran, there are [5:16] detractors in Washington, D.C. And one diplomat told me that Israel is the biggest detractor of them [5:21] all, which does not want peace in the region. But you're saying that they've reached the tipping [5:26] point based on what? You know, you can't Israeli military is in the protected conflict for a very long [5:33] period now. So, you know, the militaries also and some especially this genocidal application, [5:38] which we have seen in Gaza, that has impacted the psychological dimensions of their soldiers [5:44] as well. So probably it's been for a very long period of time, you know, and then there are [5:50] feelings inside Israeli military also and even otherwise that this genocidal application cannot [5:57] be implemented for a very longer period of time in all parts of this region. So this is one. And [6:02] secondly, once Israel say that we will stand by with the with the with the efforts of United States [6:08] of America, it means that they are giving their consent to this these talks. So it means that this [6:14] is flowing from that minute. They must have come to this conclusion that our military has achieved [6:19] the objectives are if they even if they have failed to achieve the objectives. Now they're looking for [6:24] some solutions through these talks by keeping themselves attached with United States of America. [6:29] That's why I always say that there is a talk inside United States of America. There have been [6:34] discussions that this Israel is a partner. This is a strategic liability. I personally, I feel that [6:42] this is coming becoming kind of a strategic liability for United States of America, which is a kind of a [6:47] hurdle to pursue their objectives. Now there's a there's a larger sense that this war, which has been [6:53] waged this military application by United States of America, is not the it's not pursuing the political [6:59] objectives of Americans, because most of the Americans are of this view that there was no imminent [7:06] threats to, you know, so this this war has been waged against all the inputs from the intelligentsia, [7:13] from the military. And so this is making this whole scenario confusing. That's why these talks are very [7:20] important and putting president, vice president into this team and he's leading the team. It means that [7:27] with the new face, with the new approach, he's a moderate, we all know, and he has stakes in the future as well. [7:33] So he would like to be a successful, to end at the successful outcomes of this. Thank you very much. [7:40] That's General Zahid Mahmood giving you the view here from Islamabad. The Pakistanis have been playing [7:47] a crucial role in bringing these sites together, asking them to stay for longer. And now they have [7:54] been able to extend these talks to a second day. So it appears that we are going to see more talking, [8:02] more negotiating, more arguing on these maximalist positions that we've been witnessing in the last [8:08] couple of days. But it appears that the overall atmosphere is positive, and the Pakistanis are [8:14] still hopeful that there is going to be a positive outcome. Okay, thank you for that. Al Jazeera, [8:19] Osama bin Javed. Then the Pakistani capital, hopefully you can get a little bit of rest now too. [8:23] Well, let's see.