What is stopping peace talks?

Is Israel derailing peace talks by bombing any possible negotiator?

The report of US Vice-President J.D. Vance twice getting ready to lead a delegation to Pakistan, which would have held talks with an Iranian representative delegation, comes on the heels of the report of the Israeli bombing of the residence of former Iranian Foreign Minister Ismail Kharzi in Tehran, who killed his wife and left him severely injured, and still critical. Mr Kharzi is said to have been expected to lead the Iranian delegation. This is of a piece with the Israeli track record both against Iran and against Hamas. Last year, before the June war, the Israeli attack abruptly halted the nuclear negotiation Iran was having with the USA, and where an agreement was looking increasingly likely. Even before the February 28 attack this time, though an attack had become more and more certain as the USA poured forces into the region, there were last-ditch talks in Geneva which were sabotaged by the attack. It might be remembered that when Israel itself was involved in ceasefire talks, it killed a Hamas negotiator in Qatar. The bombing of Kharazi’s residence shows not only that it has no reagrd for negotiators, but wants the wat to continue. The only possible purpose would be to prolong the life of the Netanyahu government.

Here the Israeli government’s interest is clashing with the Trump Administration’s interest, as the war is becoming increasingly unpopular because of the rising fuel price. Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif announced a reduction of the petrol price by Rs 80, bringing it below the Rs 458 per litre announced a day before. This cut was only made possible by a reduction in the petroleum levy. The net result has not been relief for the consumer, so much as making him or her realize how bad things can be. The government is still trying to meet IMF conditionalities, and has indicated its willingness to increase tariffs, over and above the Fuel adjustment charge which is going to spiral up with the price of oil.

The only way out would be to re-open the Strait of Hormuz, and de-escalate the situation. However, the balance is against a quick end to what is proving a misadventure by the USA. It seems Israel wants the closure to last longer, so that it can offer an alternative via pipelines still to be built. All the US alliesin the region will ship their oil out of Israel then.