Former diplomat Veena Sikri dropped a bombshell on Saturday, claiming Iran pushed for US Vice President JD Vance’s participation in Islamabad’s high-stakes peace negotiations with America. As Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif plays host, Sikri labeled Islamabad’s mediation as meticulously ‘choreographed’ by Washington.
In her IANS interview, Sikri connected the dots: Trump’s recent vow to obliterate Iran preceded an abrupt ceasefire, triggered by alarms over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s steadfast defense against barrages underscores its unyielding sovereignty.
These talks echo February’s Muscat session, mediated by Oman’s Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi. Iran conceded to US terms, hailing a ‘breakthrough,’ only for Israel—bolstered by America—to strike anyway. Such duplicity bred deep mistrust, making Vance’s reputed pacifism appealing, especially after sour experiences with Witkoff and Kushner.
No direct US-Iran dialogue has kicked off, but Sikri anticipates breakthroughs soon. She flagged Sharif’s ‘draft’-tagged X announcement as proof of US puppeteering. Tehran’s quid pro quo—unfreezing assets for Hormuz access—was shot down, hinting at backchannel deals.
The fragile truce hinges on Israel halting Lebanon operations; Tel Aviv, dissatisfied, eyes escalation. Sikri’s insights paint a complex web of distrust, strategy, and fragile diplomacy reshaping Middle East tensions.
