A new mediation initiative by Pakistan and Qatar may bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table. According to a report published Tuesday in the Arabic-language newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the two countries have proposed a compromise framework that includes the transfer of $6 billion in interest from frozen Iranian funds held in Qatari banks, in exchange for an Iranian step in the area of oversight of its nuclear program.
Sources involved in the contacts told the paper that the proposal is designed to partially address the demands of both sides, narrow the disputes between them, and prevent renewed escalation. The sources said the framework has received American approval and that Iran has already expressed preliminary agreement in principle.
The central component from Washington's perspective is nuclear oversight: according to the report, Tehran has agreed to allow a secret, non-public visit by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to nuclear sites in the country. This is a step intended to address the American demand to advance oversight of Iranian nuclear activity.
In return, the mediators are offering a partial response to the Iranian demand for access to its frozen funds. According to the sources, the proposal concerns interest that has accumulated on a sum of $6 billion held in banks in Qatar, and not necessarily the release of the full principal. The Iranian funds were frozen as part of US sanctions.
Pakistan army chief arrives in Tehran
The diplomatic efforts received practical expression on Tuesday, with the arrival in Tehran of Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the head of a delegation of senior Pakistani officials. According to the report, Munir brought the compromise proposal with him to Iranian officials.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that the talks with the Pakistani army commander also concern the issue of negotiations. According to him, the main focus of the discussions is on bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan and on strengthening cooperation between them.
Pakistan and Qatar are working jointly to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran and to prevent a return to military confrontation. The two countries were also involved in formulating the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad last June between the US and Iran, but that move did not succeed in halting the escalation.
In parallel, contacts continue to narrow the gaps between the sides and to formulate mutual concessions. According to an earlier report in Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Monday, sources involved in the mediation efforts estimated that it would be possible to announce a breakthrough as early as this week.
Will the agreement prevent another confrontation?
The new initiative is being published against the backdrop of warnings in Iran that the possibility of renewed military confrontation still exists, despite the diplomatic efforts. Munir's visit to Tehran joins earlier contacts with the Iranian leadership, which dealt with reducing tensions, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and accelerating efforts to end the conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Tehran on Monday is also part of the wave of diplomatic maneuvers surrounding the crisis.
