Washington D.C. – Ryan Costello, Policy Director at the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), issued the following statement regarding the status of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire:
“It is appropriate to keep expectations very low for the Islamabad negotiations in light of the near-immediate Israeli-U.S. violation of the ceasefire terms. Continued warfare is not only possible but highly likely, as Iran and Israel may resume hostilities in an effort to further define the coming regional military balance. Ultimately, the central question is likely to be not what is discussed at the negotiating table, but whether President Trump will stay out of renewed fighting or once again plunge the United States into an unauthorized and illegal war that risks further escalation and damage to U.S. interests.
“Ultimately, it would serve U.S. interests for these negotiations to succeed, and perhaps the parties – cognizant of the damage of war and its inability to build a better future – will approach this round of diplomacy with the seriousness it deserves. Yet, each of the past two negotiating rounds have ended in war, and the lead-up to the third round has been defined by walkbacks, continued bombardments and bluster.
“If diplomats succeed in meeting in Islamabad to begin discussions on a broader peace, they will do so in spite of President Trump’s efforts to walk back the terms as soon as he was done speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday.
“With a green light from President Trump, Israel accelerated its bombardment of Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday, killing hundreds. That plainly violated the terms of the ceasefire brokered and announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have since attempted to wave away the violation of the agreement as a ‘misunderstanding.’ In response, Iran has done little to change the status of the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic remains sharply limited. While the bombardment of Iran has paused for now, the underlying conditions that brought the region to the brink remain firmly in place.
“At the same time, President Trump has undercut the deal himself by publicly questioning core elements of the agreement and the differing visions for peace. He has insisted that Iran will not enrich uranium – contrary to Iran’s stated position in negotiations – and objected to Iran’s continued tolling of the Strait of Hormuz, despite the fact that such measures were not barred under the announced terms.
“There is no easy way to transform enmity to good faith diplomacy. Yet for the good of the U.S., Iran and the broader region, we hope that the U.S. and Iran find an appropriate path and halt the dangerous gamesmanship that has been on display to date.”
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