Iran wields Hormuz threat, presses West for sanctions relief
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Tehran: Iran is escalating pressure on the global stage, signalling it may leverage its control over the Strait of Hormuz to force sanctions relief and re-entry into the global economy, according to analysts cited by Al Jazeera.
Experts say Tehran is pushing for the removal of both primary and secondary sanctions to unlock foreign investment and revive trade. Alex Vatanka of the Middle East Institute said Iran aims to function as a “normal country,” warning that reliance on Hormuz as a pressure tactic is not sustainable in the long run.
The developments come amid heightened tensions following the killing of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28. His successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared Iran does not seek war with the US and Israel but will defend its national rights.
Meanwhile in Pakistan, capital Islamabad is witnessing heightened preparations ahead of high-stakes talks, with infrastructure spruced up and security significantly tightened.
Nearly six weeks after the coordinated US and Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered the conflict spanning multiple countries, Islamabad is set to host crucial negotiations between senior American and Iranian officials this weekend.
The talks follow a Pakistan-mediated two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, though the truce is already facing strain due to differing interpretations of its terms and Israel’s intensified military operations in Lebanon.
The Iran-US conflict has unsettled global energy markets, particularly after Iran targeted regional actors and restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route, allowing passage only to countries that had reached agreements with it. This move contributed to a sharp rise in global energy prices, Al Jazeera reported.
Delegations from key stakeholders are expected to gather in Islamabad, located near the Margalla Hills, for discussions aimed at resolving the conflict. The negotiations were initiated after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally invited both sides to pursue dialogue.