By Ajmal
A mediator is someone who, through dialogue, based on principles, brings about a resolution to conflicts and tensions between two or more parties.
The negotiations between Iran and the United States ended in failure within 21 hours. There may be several reasons for this failure:
When the negotiations between the United States and Iran began, Pakistan had no official authority as a mediator. It was only referred to as a mediator by the United States, but in reality, it played no practical or substantive role.
In international principles, a mediator listens to the demands of both sides, acts upon them, and presents those principles to the parties. However, in these negotiations between Iran and the United States, no clear understanding of principles and rules was visible.
Several factors may explain this situation: the structure and authority of the negotiation process, which became evident during the course of talks; the security measures imposed by the U.S. military; the statements issued by the U.S. Vice President instead of Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs and Information Ministers; and the final, definitive announcement of the failure of the negotiations. All of this indicates that Pakistan was not a mediator, but merely used as a label by the United States. The purpose was to pressure Iran into accepting a softened response to what was, in reality, a failed negotiation.
However, the demands that Iran was expected to accept amounted to accepting defeat and failure. The United States postponed the matter under the pretext of maintaining a prolonged ceasefire. Another purpose of invoking a ceasefire and so-called mediation through Pakistan was to give a political cover, attention, and a façade of firmness to the ongoing U.S. actions. In this regard, Pakistan’s military establishment was used as an instrument.
Similarly, there was neither a genuine ceasefire nor real negotiations; rather, it was merely an exchange concerning the anticipation of future escalations. This is why, instead of reducing tensions and controlling the situation, the situation became even more dangerous.
