Overview
- News18, citing intelligence sources, reports Pakistan’s bid to broker talks between Washington and Tehran has reached a deadlock and the Islamabad channel has run dry.
- Iran has signaled it does not want further Pakistani intervention and declined a second round in Islamabad without immediate concessions from the United States.
- Decision-making has shifted to hardliners tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, notably Ahmad Vahidi, who sources say blocked concessions and pushed a more defensive posture.
- Iranian officials view Pakistan Army chief Gen. Asim Munir with deep suspicion and see the outreach as tilted toward Western interests, according to the report.
- Pakistan’s leverage appears limited as it faces energy price spikes from Strait of Hormuz disruptions and deploys Operation Muhafiz-ul-Bahr to guard its shipping lanes, while US and Israeli skeptics doubt Islamabad’s credibility.