Pakistani mediators are working towards a new direct meeting between Washington and Tehran. A Chinese ship challenges the American naval blockade, while Xi Jinping proposes a four-point peace plan.
From 4 pm yesterday, the US Navy began the naval blockade of Iran previously announced by the President Donald Trump.
The decision came following the substantial failure of the talks held over the weekend in Islamabad, and was intended as a response to the Iranian grip on Hormuzwhich continues to control transit in and out of the vital waterway.
The situation therefore remains very tense. Diplomatic contacts to organize a new round of talks continuewhile the Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a four-point plan to “promote peace and stability in the Middle East.”
The Chinese plan
On the occasion of the sheikh’s official visit to Beijing Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al NahyanCrown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Xi Jinping announced the plan, which is based on the “principles of peaceful coexistence, national sovereignty, international rule of law and coordination between development and security”.
The timing is certainly not coincidental; in fact, the initiative arrives in the aftermath of the failure of the Islamabad talks and the entry into force of the American naval blockade, confirming Beijing’s strategy of presenting itself as an alternative “stabilizing” power to Washington.
The same spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Guo Jiakunspoke in the usual press conference with clear statements: «The main cause of disturbances in the Strait of Hormuz is military conflict. To solve the problem, the conflict must stop as soon as possible. All parties must remain calm and exercise restraint.”
Resumption of negotiations
Pakistan, meanwhile, intends to keep the diplomatic process alive despite the deteriorating situation on the ground.
Government sources in Islamabad confirmed that the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the head of the armed forces Asim Munir they are maintaining intense contacts with both delegations, with the aim of facilitating a second round of talks before the ceasefire expires, expected around April 22.
According to Reuters, citing five sources, the US and Iranian teams could return to Islamabad as early as this week. In an encouraging sign, the Pakistani authorities have begun to talk about an “Islamabad Process”, suggesting a desire to frame the diplomatic path as structured and continuous.
On the other hand, despite the failure of the first round, the positions would not be so irreconcilable. «We are not in a complete stalemate. The door isn’t closed yet. Both sides are negotiating. It’s a bazaar,” a regional source said.
An American official added that a deal could be reached if Iran shows more flexibility. While the Iranian ambassador to Pakistan wrote that the Islamabad talks “have laid the foundations of a diplomatic process” which, if consolidated, could generate a sustainable framework for all parties.
The challenges to the American blockade
In the meantime, however, the first concrete challenge to the US naval blockade arrived this morning. The oil tanker Rich StarryChinese-owned and sanctioned by the United States for its ties to Iran, (attributable to the company Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd) ha crossed the Strait of Hormuz on the way outbecoming the first vessel to leave the Gulf since the start of the American blockade according to MarineTraffic data.
The vessel is carrying approximately 250,000 barrels of methanol loaded in the UAE port of Hamriyah. The fact that the cargo did not come from Iranian ports may have contributed to its free transitalthough it cannot be ruled out that this occurs in the open sea.
The ship had initially approached the strait near the island of Qeshm, following the route indicated for weeks by the Pasdaranall the while transmitting details of Chinese ownership and crew, a standard maritime practice that, in this context, appeared to be a deliberate test of American enforcement.
Saudi Arabia against the American blockade
To further complicate Washington’s position, according to the Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia’s confidential pressure to obtain the lifting of the blockade. Riyadh fears that Tehran will activate its main response lever in the Red Sea: the Yemeni Houthis.
The militia could in fact resume attacks on trade routes in the region. With the Strait of Hormuz blocked, Saudi Arabia has indeed sharply increased its oil exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
A blockade of the Red Sea could deprive Saudi Arabia of its only alternative corridor to export oil. For Riyadh, a spiral of escalation involving both strategic chokepoints in the region represents a scenario to be avoided at all costs.
