The Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghtchi, is today in Saint Petersburg where he is expected to meet Vladimir Putin.
- The visit concludes a particularly active diplomatic weekend, which took him from Pakistan to Oman.
- However, no progress has been made in talks with Washington, as American envoys Witkoff and Kushner’s trip to Islamabad was canceled on Friday. Donald Trump stated, “I don’t see the point of sending them on an 18-hour flight in the current situation. It’s too long. We can just talk on the phone. The Iranians can call us if they want. We’re not going to make the trip just to sit around.”
- Iranian President Pezeshkian said his country will not engage in forced negotiations under pressure, threats, and blockades.
- According to sources quoted by Axios, Araghtchi informed Pakistani and Omani mediators that there was no consensus among Iranian leaders on how to respond to American demands. The proposal sent to Washington aims to first resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and lift the American blockade. A long ceasefire, possibly ending the war, could follow, leading to negotiations on nuclear issues once the strait is reopened and the blockade lifted.
The United States sees the current blockade as a key leverage point to gain concessions from Iran. Yesterday, Donald Trump indicated that Tehran had submitted a new proposal he deemed substantial but “not sufficient,” suggesting that the war could end “very soon.”
- A ceasefire has been in place since April 17, and it was extended indefinitely on Wednesday, April 22.
- Today, April 27, the US President is expected to meet with his national security and foreign policy advisers in a crisis meeting dedicated to Iran.
- In an interview with Fox News over the weekend, Trump discussed the American blockade’s impact on Tehran, mentioning potential consequences if the flow of oil is disrupted.
A resumption of strikes remains possible, with another deadline in mind: on May 1, the 60-day period following the President’s official notification to Congress about the operation against Iran will expire.
- Once this deadline passes, options for continuing a military campaign without Congressional approval will be limited.
- In this context, Trump may be tempted to launch new strikes before this deadline, risking Iranian retaliation and potentially strengthening his case for congressional approval to continue the conflict.
