The situation in the Middle East: The key to unlocking the door to peace.

The US canceled its planned attack on Iran on May 19th at the request of three Gulf states. Tehran also hastily sent Washington a 14-point peace plan through Pakistan. These positive moves by all parties involved give observers reason to hope for a swift end to the conflict in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of a planned attack on Iran on May 19 after receiving requests for a "temporary postponement" from the Emir of Qatar, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Upon receiving an urgent signal from the leaders of the three close allies in the Gulf region, the White House immediately instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, not to proceed with the planned attack on Iran. The reason given by the three Gulf nations—that serious peace negotiations were underway—convinced President Trump.

According to them, the parties involved are likely to reach an agreement acceptable to the US, Iran, and the region. Of course, many experts are skeptical about the veracity of the White House's statement, as they see no signs that Washington is preparing to attack Iran on May 19th.

On the Iranian side, Ebrahim Azizi, Chairman of the National Security Committee of Parliament, stated that Tehran had submitted a new 14-point peace plan through Pakistan as a mediator. Accordingly, the Islamic Republic has made some adjustments, focusing on negotiation content aimed at ending the conflict and confidence-building measures from the US side. In response, the US decided to temporarily exempt Iran's oil sector from sanctions during the negotiations, instead of insisting on pressuring the Middle Eastern nation as before. Tehran acknowledged and appreciated Washington's goodwill.

Of course, not all differing viewpoints have been resolved amicably, nor has the US-Iran relationship become completely smooth sailing. The deep chasm between Washington and Tehran remains the nuclear issue. While the US consistently maintains that Iran is not permitted to enrich uranium, even for civilian purposes, the Islamic Republic insists that the right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable.

Iran has expressed frustration that Washington has not made any concessions to Tehran's proposals in negotiations aimed at de-escalating the conflict. The US insists on allowing Iran to maintain only one nuclear facility and transferring all its highly enriched uranium to the US, a proposal Tehran has flatly rejected. In its 14-point peace plan, Iran has suggested transferring uranium to Russia instead of the US.

Tehran also expressed dissatisfaction with Washington's failure to show goodwill in lifting the freeze on Iranian assets abroad and its refusal to compensate for damages caused by the conflict as demanded by Tehran.

Meanwhile, the international community continues its efforts to promote reconciliation. The Egyptian Foreign Minister held separate telephone conversations with his counterparts from Pakistan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. All parties agreed that diplomacy is the only solution to end the crisis that is destabilizing and jeopardizing regional security.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held a phone call with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed Al-Thani to discuss mediation efforts related to the conflict between the US and Iran. Both sides emphasized the importance of resuming dialogue to reach agreements that would stabilize the situation, and called for prioritizing diplomatic and political solutions to avoid the risk of military escalation in the region.

Analysts believe that the ideal space for negotiations, including a ceasefire, shuttle diplomacy, and international mediation efforts, is already in place. However, the key to unlocking peace in the Middle East still lies in the hands of the United States and Iran.

BAO MINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tinh-hinh-trung-dong-chia-khoa-mo-canh-cua-hoa-binh-post963390.html