Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, stated in recent remarks that his country is "cautiously optimistic" about its mediation efforts between Iran and the United States. He warned that there are "powerful opposing factors" that see the continuation of war as beneficial to themselves.
Important Visits to Tehran
Chaudhry, speaking to reporters on Friday, referred to the recent visits of Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, to Tehran, evaluating it as a positive sign without naming these factors. Asim Munir visited Tehran twice in October, and during his latest visit, he met with Iranian officials alongside Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi Minister of Defense, and Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkey's intelligence agency.
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The spokesperson for the Pakistan Army said in this regard, "If there were no positive signs, why would the field marshal have gone to Tehran twice?" These remarks clearly reflect Chaudhry's hope for progress in the negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Joint Defense Agreement of Mecca and Iran
In response to questions about the possibility of Iran joining the joint defense agreement of Mecca, Chaudhry explained that the text of this agreement does not pose an obstacle to accepting new members. He stated, "Any country that shares a common view on collective deterrence and regional peace is welcome. Why not?"
According to him, the final decision regarding Iran's potential membership in the Mecca pact rests with the political leaders of the three countries: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. These three countries signed a joint defense agreement on August 7, 2023, under which an attack on any member is considered an attack on all of them.
The Mecca agreement is seen as an important step towards strengthening defense cooperation among Islamic countries and establishing security in the region. Although initially signed to counter common threats, it is now also being considered for including Iran as a new member.
Challenges and the Future of Talks
However, Chaudhry also pointed to the challenges facing the talks. He emphasized that the presence of powerful opposing factors could impact the negotiation process. These factors, which somehow benefit from the continuation of tensions in the region, could overshadow Pakistan's mediation efforts.
In this context, the future of the talks between Iran and the United States heavily depends on the reactions of these factors. It seems that Pakistan, with a cautious yet hopeful approach, is seeking to create a conducive environment for these negotiations.
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