The United States is interested in a negotiated solution to the conflict with Iran, and “endless war“ cannot be allowed, US President Donald Trump told advisers, Reuters reported.
According to analysts, the main question is whether the US president is ready to end the hostilities. Reuters recalls that the consequences of the war have already spread far beyond the Middle East, causing the worst global energy supply crisis in history.
“President Trump has virtually no options for ending the war. Part of the problem is that it's unclear what would be considered a satisfactory end," said Jonathan Panikoff, former deputy director of national intelligence for the Middle East.
On March 1, two days after the start of the US military operation against Iran, Trump said the war could last four weeks. But he did not rule out the possibility that the military operation could end more quickly.
Exactly a month after the conflict began, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio predicted that the war would last another two to four weeks, according to Axios. Later, speaking to reporters, Rubio said the US expected the war to end in "weeks, not months" and are awaiting clarification on who will represent Iran in any peace talks.
Pakistan is the main mediator between the US and Iran, with the first face-to-face meeting between representatives of the two countries expected to take place in Islamabad.
The New York Times and the Associated Press reported that the US, through Pakistani mediation, has presented Iran with a 15-point plan to end the conflict. According to Israel's Channel 12, the US administration intends to propose a month-long ceasefire to allow the parties to discuss the document.
Meanwhile, Tehran continues to claim that there has been no contact between Iran and the US since the start of hostilities. According to Iranian sources, Axios reported that representatives of the Islamic Republic have told the mediating countries - Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey - that Tehran views Trump's offer to start talks as a stalling tactic while US troops mass near Iran.