The negotiations between the United States and Iran in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, are about to take place. Iran International, based in the United Kingdom, has learned that senior Iranian officials are still disputing the composition and powers of the negotiating team.
According to Iran International on Friday, April 10, Ahmad Vahidi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, is trying to limit the powers of Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the negotiations.
Vahidi is also attempting to include Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in the negotiation team, a move opposed by existing members of the team who believe that Zolghadr lacks strategic negotiation experience.
At the same time, Vahidi and the Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Force emphasize that the negotiating team must avoid discussing issues related to limiting Iran’s missile program.
The abolishment of Iran’s nuclear weapons program has been a major goal of the Trump administration’s negotiations, but the United States is also seeking to limit Iran’s missile capabilities. Iran has previously refused to negotiate on the missile issue.
The U.S. team heading to Pakistan for the negotiations will be led by Vice President Pence. Pence stated when departing on Friday that President Trump had provided “clear guidance” for the negotiations with Iran this weekend.
“We will work towards a positive negotiation. The President has given us very clear guidance, so we wait and see,” he said, warning Iran not to play games with the United States.
On Thursday, April 9, President Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News that he is “very optimistic” about the possibility of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
“The statements from Iranian leaders in the talks are very different from what they say in the media. They are much more reasonable in person,” he said, adding, “They have agreed on everything that needs to be agreed upon. Remember, they are conquered. They do not have a military anymore.”
“If they do not reach an agreement, the consequences will be very severe,” Trump warned.