The US and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement on April 7. This decision was made after Pakistan's persistent mediation efforts, helping to prevent a US all-out attack on Iran's energy infrastructure.
The 14-day ceasefire order is not only aimed at cooling down firepower but also creating space for a round of direct talks scheduled to take place in Islamabad on April 10.
The focus of all upcoming discussions will revolve around the 10-point plan that Iran has just submitted to the US, a document expected to completely change the regional landscape.
According to analysis from The New York Times, the core point is to demand that the US withdraw all military forces from the Middle East. This is a direct lever to end the presence of US bases in the region, which Tehran considers a prerequisite to ensure a "permanent peace" as they define it.
In parallel with that, Iran demanded that the US accept its uranium enrichment program and lift all primary and secondary sanctions.
Regarding maritime issues, Iran is not only stopping at reopening the Strait of Hormuz but also proposing a "Common management protocol". Instead of letting US warships patrol freely, Tehran wants to directly manage and operate the process of controlling ships passing by with Oman.
In addition, Iran also puts on the negotiating table the interests of its allies, specifically requesting Israel to stop airstrikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon. This move shows that Tehran wants to use the agreement with the US to sponsor its entire influence network in the Middle East.
On the US side, accepting a 14-day ceasefire is seen as a tactical step back to cool down world oil prices and ease pressure from allies. However, Iran's requests to completely lift sanctions and release assets are still difficult-to-untie knots.
The outcome of the upcoming 14 days of negotiations will determine whether the Middle East will move towards sustainable peace or continue to fall into a new, more fierce spiral of conflict.
