Trump's 'cautious optimism' ahead of talks with Iran

Donald Trump has expressed 'cautious optimism' ahead of possible diplomatic talks with Iran. Indirect talks between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Islamabad within hours.

In a brief statement before boarding Air Force One on Friday evening, Trump said that the US delegation is competent and he expects them to do well in the talks. However, he did not want to give any guarantees in advance about the outcome of the talks.

He said, "Let's see what happens in the end... We have a good team, they are meeting, we will monitor the situation."

Trump is also looking at these talks from a strategic perspective. In particular, he mentioned the important Strait of Hormuz, and said that if it is opened, the situation could be normal. At the same time, he claimed that the United States is not directly dependent on this route.

In response to a question from reporters, Trump ruled out having any alternative plans. In his words, "It will not be easy, but we will be able to open the route very quickly."

On the other hand, Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the US delegation, described the talks as positive but took a cautious stance. He said that Iran should not resort to any kind of ‘artificiality’ in the talks.

In this context, Pakistan has presented itself as a supportive platform. The country is said to be working to create an environment for talks instead of direct mediation.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said that the current situation is the result of many diplomatic efforts. He also mentioned the role of countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

He also said that the talks to be started in Islamabad are part of an ongoing process and positive attitude from both sides is very important for success.

According to analysts, this mixed message of hope and uncertainty at the beginning of the talks indicates that the path to a solution remains as fragile as it is close.