Fareed Zakaria: Diplomatic efforts to end Iran war face new roadblocks
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — fareed zakaria is part of a widening debate over whether diplomacy can still move the U. S. war with Iran forward, as the latest efforts face distrust, conflicting goals, and no clear mediator. Pakistan has stepped in as an unlikely peace broker, but the talks have not gained traction and the Trump administration’s strategy remains murky. On Saturday, President Donald Trump renewed his ultimatum for Iran to accept U. S. terms and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday.
Talks stall as pressure rises
Three Persian Gulf Pakistan’s outreach has mostly consisted of indirect exchanges, not substantive negotiations. They said no senior envoys have been shuttling between capitals and no formal framework for talks has taken shape, leaving the diplomatic track fragile and uncertain.
Iran has publicly welcomed the Pakistani role. Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran is “deeply grateful” for Pakistan’s efforts and has “never refused” engagement. Privately, however, doubts remain over whether Iran is willing or able to participate meaningfully, with security concerns and the absence of guarantees that the U. S. and Israel will not attack again weighing heavily on the process.
Regional mediators hesitate
Some Persian Gulf states are also skeptical that Pakistan can serve as a neutral broker, given its decades-old alliance with Saudi Arabia and its limited record in high-stakes mediation. The region’s two traditional intermediaries, Oman and Qatar, are not filling the gap in any decisive way.
Oman, which previously mediated two rounds of talks between Washington and Tehran, remains open to re-engaging. But that role has been complicated by a breakdown in trust with Washington. Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, publicly criticized the latest strikes, saying he was “dismayed” that “active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. ”
Qatar has also not stepped forward as a broker in the current war. Regional officials say recent high-level engagements involving Doha have centered more on coordination and regional stability than on mediation itself. The United Arab Emirates has ruled itself out as a potential broker and has instead become one of the most vocal critics of Iran during the conflict.
Security pressure narrows options
The UAE’s position has hardened as the security threat from Tehran grows. Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting the country have surged, reaching about 60 per day last week and 79 on Saturday, the highest since March 8, figures released by Emirati authorities. That escalation has left the UAE with little appetite to take on a mediating role.
Elsewhere, Trump’s warning has added urgency to the stalled diplomacy. His Saturday post said, “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them, ” underscoring how quickly the window for talks may be closing. In that climate, fareed zakaria has become a useful shorthand for the broader argument now unfolding over whether diplomacy still has room to work.
What happens next
For now, the diplomatic map remains unsettled. Pakistan’s effort has yet to produce a real negotiating channel, Oman is wary, Qatar is not actively stepping in, and the UAE has ruled itself out while facing direct pressure from Iranian attacks. If there is any movement in the coming hours, it will likely depend on whether a credible intermediary can emerge before Trump’s Monday deadline, and whether fareed zakaria remains a reference point for the argument or becomes part of a failed diplomatic moment.
