Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan Fail to Establish Direct Contacts Between the US and Iran — WSJ

Mediation efforts by Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan aimed at establishing direct contacts between the United States and Iran have yet to yield any positive results, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The Iranian side has categorically refused to reconsider its key demands, complicating the possibility of negotiations.

Specifically, Tehran has rejected a proposal concerning the opening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary ceasefire. Iran has also informed mediators that it has no intention of meeting with US representatives in Islamabad in the coming days. In Tehran, American conditions are deemed unacceptable, indicating serious discrepancies between the parties.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that the foreign ministers of Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan held telephone negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. However, even these contacts did not produce significant results. In light of these failures, Turkey and Egypt have begun to seek alternative venues for potential contacts, with Istanbul and Doha being considered.

The breakdown of dialogue attempts occurs against the backdrop of a new ultimatum from Donald Trump. On February 28, a joint military operation by the US and Israel against the Iranian regime commenced, dubbed 'Epic Fury' in the US and 'Lion's Roar' in Israel. As a result of airstrikes, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was eliminated.

In response to these strikes, Iran began launching ballistic missiles and drones into Israeli territory, as well as targeting Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Attacks on US military bases were recorded, indicating an escalation of the conflict.

On March 28, Reuters reported that one month into the military operation against Iran, President Donald Trump faced a difficult choice: to strike a potentially flawed deal and end the war or risk escalation that could lead to a protracted conflict.

On March 31, The Wall Street Journal noted that Donald Trump was prepared to conclude the war against Iran even if the currently blocked Strait of Hormuz was not fully opened. According to US intelligence, Tehran is unlikely to agree to unblock the Strait of Hormuz anytime soon, casting doubt on the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the situation.

On April 3, the US lost two military aircraft in one day. Iranian forces shot down an F-15E over the country's territory, after which one American pilot was rescued, while the other was declared missing. On the same day, an A-10 Warthog was lost near the Strait of Hormuz, with its pilot also successfully rescued. According to Western media, this is one of the most serious episodes of escalation, significantly raising the stakes in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

On that day, The Wall Street Journal reported that the efforts of Middle Eastern countries and other regional mediators, led by Pakistan, to organize ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran had reached a deadlock. On April 1, representatives of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the Strait of Hormuz would not be opened due to the 'absurd statements' of President Donald Trump and that this waterway is 'under firm control of the IRGC.'