Pakistani defense minister: I feel the war on Iran will not resume

Tehran - BORNA - Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said on Monday that his "gut feeling" is that the war on Iran will not resume, citing domestic opposition within the United States to direct involvement in a Middle East conflict. During the ceasefire in the war between the U.S. and Iran, Pakistan has been mediating negotiations between the two sides. The first round of these talks aimed at ending the war on April 12 failed to yield results.

Following the inconclusive first round, the diplomatic process between Tehran and Washington has continued through the Pakistani mediator via the exchange of proposals. These exchanges aimed at reaching a negotiating framework have so far been inconclusive.

Tehran emphasizes that an initial agreement must be reached to end the war on all fronts, lift sanctions, compensate Iran for damages, and resolve the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iran's proposal, after the conclusion of the war, the issue of Iran's nuclear program—preserving its legitimate right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes—will be addressed within a specific negotiating timeframe.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that a potential agreement with Iran would include ensuring Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons, and he has threatened to resume military strikes against Iran in the absence of a deal.

At the same time, Trump announced in a message last night that at the request of the leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, he has postponed the strikes—which he claimed were scheduled to take place today, May 19—because serious negotiations are underway.

He added: "They, as great leaders and allies, feel a deal will be made that will be very acceptable to the United States of America and all of the countries in the Middle East, and beyond."

Speaking on Geo News' Capital Talk program, Asif said: "Israel deeply desires the resumption of the war and wants America to fight alongside it." He noted, however, that American public opinion is opposed to this war.

"I am not a diplomacy expert, but my gut feeling says this war will not happen again," Asif added.

While Trump threatened last night to resume large-scale strikes against Iran if no agreement is reached, Asif pointed to the American public's reluctance to support another war in the region, stating: "Wars happen when the public supports them. When the public does not support it, a war does not happen."

The illegal U.S. war against Iran—which resulted in the enforcement of laws on transiting vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and its subsequent closure to hostile parties' ships—has dealt an unprecedented shock to energy markets, increasing fuel and household costs in various countries, including the United States.

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