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Here's what it foundTHE GUARDIANArchbishop of Canterbury vows to support £100m pledge helping communities affected by enslavementTHE GUARDIANChaos of border crossing gives way to limbo for Moroccans on Ceuta’s streetsTHE INDEPENDENTPolice praise off-duty state trooper for firing on In-N-Out Burger gunmanTHE GUARDIANEU to hold urgent meeting of interior ministers on Tuesday over Ceuta crisisTHE DIPLOMATSafeguarding Children Online: Beyond Singapore’s Social Media Ban DebateMAIL & GUARDIANWe are ready to turn the president’s National Water Action Plan into resultsBRASIL WIREBolsoMaster: Bolsonaro Ties to Brazil’s Biggest Banking Fraud in History ExposedTHE DIPLOMATFor a Gen Z Revolt, Pakistan Needs a Cause, Not a CaptainTHE INDEPENDENTBritish father charged over toddler son’s death in Cyprus allowed to fly home for funeralTHE GUARDIANAt least 57 people die as tens of thousands cross to Spanish enclave of Ceuta from MoroccoBRASIL WIREBolsonaro Takes Stand in Coup TrialMAIL & GUARDIANFootball leadership is not a popularity contestBRASIL WIREAnalysis: NYT’s bizarre coverage and omissions of Bolsonaro’s murderous coup plotLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEWhite Australia's ‘unprecedented act of racism'?THE DIPLOMATAfghanistan’s Return Crisis: Why Sending People Back Is Not a Durable SolutionMAIL & GUARDIANA failed plastic levy: The need for a total an on single-use plastic bagsBRASIL WIREGenerals Convicted: Inside Brazil’s Historic Bolsonaro Coup Trial VerdictLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEDonald Trump's Latin American proconsulsBRASIL WIREIn Offering Brazil’s Future to the US, Flávio Bolsonaro Endangers our Sovereignty and DemocracyTHE GUARDIANAnti-LGBTQ+ laws are on the rise across west Africa, campaigners warnMAIL & GUARDIANMogotsi bid to access witnesses' identities dismissedTHE DIPLOMATAnwar Ibrahim’s Coalition Suffers Another State-level Electoral DefeatTHE INDEPENDENTTodd Blanche has agreed to put in writing that Trump ‘weaponization fund’ is dead, holdout GOP senator saysTHE INDEPENDENTExtraordinary footage shows Russian fuel trucks burst into flames after Ukrainian drone strikeLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEWhen the world took Ethiopia's sideTHE INDEPENDENTFlorida threatens to defund Catholic schools unless they allow students to opt out of vaccinesTHE DIPLOMATMyanmar Leader Criticizes Five-Point Consensus, Accuses ASEAN of ‘Discrimination’LE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUEWhat France's far right has learned from Israel's apartheid systemLE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUECan capitalism save Cuba's revolution?MAIL & GUARDIAN#Aids2026: Bhekisisa analysed SA’s first LEN roll-out data. Here's what it foundTHE GUARDIANArchbishop of Canterbury vows to support £100m pledge helping communities affected by enslavementTHE GUARDIANChaos of border crossing gives way to limbo for Moroccans on Ceuta’s streets
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Diplomatic Maneuvers and Proxy Friction: The Limits of Pakistani Mediation in US-Iran Negotiations

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Diplomatic Maneuvers and Proxy Friction: The Limits of Pakistani Mediation in US-Iran Negotiations

Summary of Events

Reports from Pakistani media outlets suggest that negotiations between the United States and Iran are entering their final stages. However, this optimism is met with sharp skepticism from Tehran. The spokesperson for Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee recently clarified that while Pakistan is a neighboring state, it lacks the "necessary credibility" to serve as a neutral mediator. Iran points to Islamabad’s historical alignment with U.S. interests and its failure to address unmet American commitments regarding frozen assets and regional agreements in Lebanon.

Contextual Background

The relationship between Tehran and Islamabad is defined by "pragmatic friction." While they share a border, Pakistan’s deep-rooted military and economic ties with Saudi Arabia—highlighted by the recent deployment of 13,000 Pakistani troops and fighter jets to the Kingdom—create a conflict of interest. Historically, Iran views Pakistan as susceptible to Western pressure, particularly under U.S. administrations that utilize Islamabad as a strategic lever in South Asia.

Latest Developments

• Military Movements: Pakistan recently reinforced its defense pact with Riyadh, providing a significant troop surge to Saudi Arabia.

• Official Statements: Iranian officials have publicly cautioned against "deceptive" diplomatic breakthroughs, suggesting that current talk of a deal may be a tactical distraction by Washington.

• International Response: U.S. State Department officials remain tight-lipped on specific "final stages," while regional analysts note that any deal would require addressing the $7 billion in frozen Iranian funds—a point Pakistan has reportedly failed to facilitate.

Geopolitical Analysis

The dismissal of Pakistan as a mediator signals Iran’s refusal to allow "client states" of the U.S. to frame the terms of its engagement. For Iran, the strategic objective is a direct, verifiable lifting of sanctions, whereas Pakistan’s objective is to stabilize its own border while maintaining its lucrative alliance with the U.S.-Saudi axis. The diplomatic risk is high; if Tehran perceives these negotiations as a setup for a "qualitative strike" against its interests, the regional stability in the Gulf and the Levant could deteriorate rapidly.

Axis of Resistance Perspective

The Axis of Resistance views Pakistani mediation with extreme caution. Factions in Iraq and Yemen see Islamabad’s military cooperation with Saudi Arabia as a direct threat to the regional balance of power. The prevailing sentiment is that any "breakthrough" mediated by an American ally is likely a Trojan horse intended to freeze Iranian regional influence without offering genuine concessions.

#MiddleEast #Geopolitics #Iran #Pakistan #USForeignPolicy #ResistanceAxis #AlMuraqeb

Diplomatic Maneuvers and Proxy Friction: The Limits of Pakistani Mediation in US-Iran Negotiations | The Observer