Preparations for Kalbaei-Van der Stoel meeting race against return to war
As the US-Iranian conflict approaches a critical juncture that could plunge the entire region into an open war of attrition, a source close to Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Kalibaf revealed that communications are currently underway between his representatives and envoys of US Vice President JD Vance, aiming to prepare for a new round of negotiations. These talks had completely stalled following their joint announcement in early July that the Islamabad memorandum of understanding had collapsed.
The discussions will also address the mechanism for returning to the memorandum of understanding and implementing previously agreed-upon measures between the two sides, such as the release of Iranian funds, lifting the naval blockade, and reducing sanctions on Tehran.
The source indicated that the meeting would examine the interpretation of Article 5 of the memorandum regarding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring navigation safety in the strait. Disagreements over this article had fueled an escalation that lasted 13 days before subsiding unofficially since last Saturday.
The source noted that the discussions would also focus on re-establishing the hotline between the two sides to resolve disputes through it, rather than resorting to new military confrontations.
He stated that the Americans had expressed openness to accepting any mechanism agreed upon by Iran and Oman to manage navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as was the case before the war, with the possibility of collecting "service and environmental safety fees" from ships. It was clarified that Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman had entered the line of direct communication between Iran and the United States to arrange the meeting, which would be the second of its kind if it takes place. However, the US side preferred not to finalize the step before the conclusion of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit and his meeting with US President Donald Trump today to clarify his position.
Yesterday, Netanyahu’s plane departed for Washington, delayed from its scheduled time, coinciding with the Israeli military’s announcement of intercepting two drones near the Jordanian border. Israeli reports revealed that the Israeli prime minister carries intelligence documents indicating that Iran’s fugitive Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, was involved in efforts to accelerate his country’s nuclear and military programs, hoping to persuade Trump to return to war and abandon the resumption of the negotiation track.
Amid US leaks suggesting that the White House is studying a plan to deploy special forces to seize Tehran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to near-weapons-grade levels at Natanz and Fordow, Pakistani intelligence officials expressed appreciation for the US president’s proximity to launching a limited ground operation.
While posting an AI-generated image showing his country’s forces seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, Trump stated, “I will not give negotiations with Iran much time, and if they fail, we will return to war with greater strength.”
In response, Iranian officials issued a series of threats to retaliate after Ukraine targeted a ship in the Caspian Sea, claiming it was carrying Russian weapons to Tehran.
