Islamabad: A prominent Pakistani expert and former ambassador to the US and the UK has voiced concerns over the ongoing US strategy towards Iran, which seems aimed at coercing Tehran back into nuclear negotiations under American conditions. The expert suggests that the recent failure to pass a UN Security Council resolution to continue sanctions relief on Iran signals a preference for pressure over diplomacy by both the US and its European allies.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi, who represented Pakistan at the United Nations from 2014 to 2019, shared her insights in an exclusive interview. She remarked that while the European Troika appears to act independently, their actions are ultimately aligned with Washington’s directives. Ambassador Lodhi criticized the US’s approach of tightening sanctions while simultaneously urging Iran to return to the negotiating table, stating that the US’s aim is to resume talks under terms favorable to Washington, specifically a zero-enrichment nuclear deal.

Ambassador Lodhi highlighted the difficulties Iran faces in accepting such preconditions, emphasizing that any agreement should emerge from genuine negotiations rather than being dictated by US demands. She questioned the rationale behind negotiations if the US expects Iran to accept predetermined conditions, suggesting that the American strategy is essentially to pressure Iran into compliance.

Furthermore, Ambassador Lodhi revealed Pakistan’s involvement in conveying messages from the Trump administration to Tehran, exploring the possibility of reviving nuclear negotiations. She advocated for negotiations without preconditions, indicating that the continued imposition of sanctions serves as a major hurdle. Lodhi described the tactics of the Trump administration as bullying, a method she argues is ineffective in persuading countries to engage in dialogue.