Amid continuing geopolitical friction between the United States and Iran, foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad has stated that meaningful negotiations between the two countries cannot take place unless active hostilities are brought to an end.
Speaking on the evolving situation, Awwad emphasized that ongoing military and strategic tensions, including blockades and maritime restrictions, have made diplomatic engagement extremely difficult. He argued that trust cannot be built while confrontational actions continue on both sides.
“Without ending hostilities, other issues cannot be negotiated,” Awwad said, highlighting that the current environment remains highly unstable for any structured dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
He further pointed out that recent developments, including Iran’s proposal to open key maritime routes in exchange for the lifting of restrictions, were not accepted by the United States. According to him, this reflects a deeper strategic disagreement, where both sides are unwilling to step back from their core positions.
Awwad also noted that tensions around strategic waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz have added further complexity to the crisis. He said that restrictions and counter-restrictions have escalated economic and security risks, particularly for global trade and energy supply chains.
The expert stressed that both nations continue to accuse each other of escalating the situation, making it harder to create a neutral ground for negotiations. He added that past diplomatic efforts have repeatedly stalled due to lack of trust and disagreement over core issues such as sanctions, nuclear concerns, and regional security.
Meanwhile, international observers have also expressed concern over the prolonged standoff, warning that continued escalation could have wider global economic implications, especially in energy markets.
Despite occasional backchannel communications and diplomatic messaging through intermediaries, no concrete breakthrough has been achieved so far. Analysts say that unless there is a clear reduction in hostilities, prospects for a formal negotiation process remain limited.
The situation continues to develop, with global attention focused on whether both sides will eventually move toward de-escalation and structured talks.
