By Ramesh Bhan
New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) Coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran, Tehran claimed it has achieved a 'massive victory' in the 40-day war and forced the United States to 'accept its 10-point plan.'
During the two-week ceasefire period, negotiations will be held in Islamabad--on April 10.
'The negotiations will begin in Islamabad on Friday, April 10, with complete distrust of the American side, and Iran will allocate two weeks for these talks. This timeframe is extendable by mutual agreement,'’ a statement issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said, just ahead of the ceasefire announcement.
News network CNN which aired the statement, was attacked by Trump who described it (the statement) as 'fake' and asked CNN to withdraw it.
The SNSC, however, warned that this does not mean the end of the war and said Iran will only accept the termination of the war once the details—given the acceptance of Iran’s preferred principles in the 10-point plan—are finalised in the negotiations.
'Our hands are on the trigger, and the moment the slightest error is committed by the enemy, it will be responded to with full power,' the SNSC warned.
Asserting that the US had suffered an 'undeniable, historical, and crushing defeat,' the SNSC said that in the plan, US is fundamentally committed to guaranteeing non-aggression, continuation of Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions, termination of all resolutions of the Security Council and the Board of Governors, payment of Iran’s damages, withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, and cessation of war on all fronts, including against the Islamic Resistance of Lebanon.
The SNSC claimed that Iran, along with the Resistance in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and Palestine, has dealt blows to the US-Israel during the past 40 days.
Accusing Israel of having convinced the 'ignorant' President of the US that this war would finish Iran, the SNSC said they dreamed of partitioning Iran, plundering its oil and wealth and would succeed in complete military dominance over Iran in a short time.
However, Iran and the Resistance initiated one of the 'heaviest hybrid battles' in history against the US and Israel, achieving the objectives designed for this conflict during this period.
The SNSC statement claimed that Iran and the Resistance almost completely destroyed the American military machine in the region, dealt 'crushing and profound blows' to their vast infrastructure and facilities stationed around the region over the years for this war against Iran.
In regional dimensions, they imposed extensive casualties on the US army, and within the occupied territories, delivered heavy and shattering blows to their infrastructure, facilities, and assets.
The US and Israel realised about 10 days after the start of the war that it would in no way have the capability to win this war and therefore, began attempting to establish contact with Iran, requesting a ceasefire through various channels and methods.
The statement claimed that the US and Israel have been 'pleading for over a month' for cessation of hostilities by Iran and the Resistance. However, 'Iran gave a negative response to all these requests, and the war continued until today, which is the fortieth day.'
The SNSC said Iran had rejected several deadlines presented by the US President and continues to emphasise that it grants no importance to any type of deadline from the enemy.
'Iran’s decision is to continue this battle for as long as necessary until its achievements are consolidated and new security and political equations are created in the region based on the acceptance of the power and sovereignty of Iran and the Resistance.'
Considering Iran’s 'upper hand,' US-Israel’s inability to carry out threats despite claims, 'it was decided that negotiations be held in Islamabad to finalise the details. This is so that within a maximum of 15 days, with the finalisation of details, Iran’s victory on the field shall also be consolidated in political negotiations.'
The SNSC statement said that while 'rejecting' all plans presented by the US, Iran drafted a 10-point plan and presented it to the US via Pakistan.
It reaffirmed fundamental points such as 'controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Iran’s armed forces (which grants Iran a unique economic and geopolitical position), necessity of ending the war against all components of the Axis of Resistance, withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region, establishment of a secure transit protocol in the Strait of Hormuz such that it guarantees Iranian dominance according to the agreed protocol, full payment of Iran’s damages according to estimates, removal of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council, release of all blocked Iranian properties and assets abroad, and finally, approval of all these items in a binding Security Council resolution.'
It said approval of this resolution will turn all these agreements into binding international law.
The SNSC said Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had informed Iran that the US, despite all outward threats, has 'accepted these principles as the basis for negotiations.'
'Accordingly, at the highest level, it has been decided that Iran will engage in negotiations in Islamabad with the American side for a period of two weeks, based solely on these principles,' the SNSC statement said.
UNI RB 1432