The Mideast riddle

With the Middle East in a state of flux and volatility on the rise, there is an urgent need for astute diplomacy. The perplexing positions taken by both Tehran and Washington are quite unnerving and act as a detriment to attaining a lasting solution to the regional crisis. For its part, the Islamic Republic is busy attempting to dominate the Strait of Hormuz, where its plethora of new legislative measures to control the international waterway is brewing uncertainty. More than 20% of global trade navigating the Strait of Hormuz is at a near standstill, frequently disrupted by drone and missile launches.

Likewise, President Trump's contradictory policy statements - underscoring the need for dialogue at times while vehemently threatening to obliterate Iran at others - send the wrong signals. This approach provides ground for non-state actors, such as the Houthis and other regional militias, to flex their muscles and add a new dimension of warmongering, as evidenced by the evolving turmoil in the Red Sea. Adding to the misery are Israel's misadventures in Lebanon, including the latest episode of bombardment of Tyre. Last but not least, Gulf littoral states are on the receiving end, facing severe dilemmas in protecting supply chains as oil prices swing wildly.

This web of challenges can only be addressed through a single approach: focusing on a sustained format for dialogue. Encouragingly, regional stalwarts are regrouping for stability, and the trilateral defence understanding reached in Makkah between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan is a case in point. Moreover, Iran's positive response to this regional troika - highlighting the need to shun extra-territorial forces - serves as a sign of regional alignment at a time when unpredictability is the order of the day. Pakistan's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has rightfully pushed the envelope by unequivocally telling US Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker that implementation of the Islamabad MoU "is the only way forward." It is time for the doves to outmaneuver the hawks and work toward serenity and a permanent peace accord.