This is apropos a news item carried by Business Recorder in its yesterday’s issue. In my view, it is increasingly clear that Iran is quite serious about avoiding a military conflict with the US. The remarks made by a senior Iranian official recently say it all.
According to this official, who remains unidentified because he requested anonymity while talking to a highly credible global news agency, US and Iran could reach a deal if nuclear and non-nuclear issues are separated.
In other words, the US and Iran could reach a framework for a deal if Washington separates “nuclear and non-nuclear issues”. Iran’s approach to the ongoing Washington-Tehran negotiations at Geneva, therefore, appears to be highly plausible and reasonable.
Needless to say, Iran’s right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes must be recognised and sanctions should be lifted.
Be that as it may, the US, in my view, is not going to attack Iran, at least anytime soon. It is just stepping up pressure on the Iranian government so that it can extract maximum concessions—legitimate or illegitimate—from the Islamic republic through negotiations. But Iran has also identified the red lines of unacceptable behavior. Let’s see how things play out in coming weeks and months.
Mohammad Taqi (Karachi)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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