Araghchi’s geopolitical chess move came after a dissonant
weekend of potential feints and false starts in the effort to end the US-Israel
war with Iran. As news broke that the Iranian official was leaving Islamabad, Trump announced he was canceling
the trip by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in part because the US “has all
the cards.”
Iran has told Pakistan, which is operating as an
intermediary, that it would cease obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz if the US
ended its naval blockade of Iranian shipping. Under its plan, negotiations over
Iran’s nuclear research would be dealt with later, Axios reported.
While the White House said it hasn’t changed its position on
“red lines” associated with Iran’s atomic program, the administration said it
was nevertheless discussing the Iranian proposal.
None of this back and forth sat well with energy markets
Monday, the eve of the war’s two-month anniversary. Brent crude prices rose for
a sixth straight session to settle above US$108 a barrel. And at least one
European leader angered by the high energy prices the continent is paying
thanks to the conflict was less than diplomatic in his assessment.
The US “is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership,”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday, adding he didn’t see “what
strategic exit the Americans are now choosing.” Tehran’s negotiators, the German leader said, are
proceeding “very skillfully—or indeed very skillfully not negotiating.”
