WANA (Jun 15) – A source close to the negotiating team has revealed new details about the drafting process of the Islamabad Understanding, highlighting a significant change made on the final day of talks that could directly affect both the future of negotiations and the implementation of commitments by the parties involved.

 

According to the source, Article 13 of the understanding outlines the conditions required before negotiations on a final agreement, including the nuclear issue, can begin. Under this provision, discussions on a final deal cannot proceed until several specified commitments in the understanding have been implemented.

 

The source explained that, until the last day of negotiations, Article 13 referred to Articles 4, 5, 10, and 11. Article 4 concerns the lifting of the maritime blockade, Article 5 addresses the beginning of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Article 10 relates to the removal of sanctions on Iran’s oil, petrochemical products, and related exports, while Article 11 concerns the start of the process of releasing Iran’s frozen assets. As a result, failure to implement any of these four provisions would prevent negotiations on a final agreement from commencing.

 

The source said that a major development occurred during the final round of talks when, following efforts by the Iranian side, Article 1 was also added to the provisions covered by Article 13.

 

According to the source, the significance of this addition is that if any war, military action, assassination, or similar operation takes place in Iran or against groups aligned with Tehran in the region, including in Lebanon, negotiations on a final agreement would not move forward. In such circumstances, the implementation of the understanding itself, including measures such as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, would also be suspended under the terms of Article 13.

 

The source further noted that Iran had already maintained that any outbreak of war, assassination, or military operation would lead to the suspension of negotiations and a proportional response to those responsible. However, by incorporating Article 1 into Article 13, this position has now been explicitly codified in the text of the understanding.