A peace deal with several points including the reopening of the Hormuz Strait within four days of the removal of sanctions, as well as the withdrawal of significant Houth forces within Yemeniʹ lies at the core of Gulf states’ plans to prevent what they consider a catastrophic resumption of war between Iran and the United States.

The US is aware of the negotiations’ performance, but expects a concession for which European powers suggest it may include Iran’s allowing the return of UN arms inspectors to the country.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband called on Iranians to agree to allow the return of UN inspectors during his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arghchi in New York; however, until now Iran has refused, declaring it will hold talks in principle regarding its nuclear programme.

European diplomats believe that allowing weapons inspectors to return to Iran and visit bombed nuclear facilities is a minimum requirement for achieving progress in relations with US President Donald Trump.

But Iran remains focused exclusively on the guarantees for easing sanctions, which would benefit in exchange for reopening the Hormuz Strait.

Dr. Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, said Iran is willing to cut the proposed deadline for reopening the Strait from seven days after the removal of economic sanctions in four days.

As another sign of flexibility, Iran has begun to acknowledge that it plays an intermediate role in the parallel conflict in Yemen.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei met on Tuesday with the Houth Ambassador to Iran, Ibrahim al-Dulaimi.

The meeting took place 24 hours after a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan travelled to Tehran to discuss Saudi Arabia’s conditions to end the conflict in Yemen, as well as to discuss a long-term security architecture for the region.

Iran supports the Houthites and has the power to exert influence on them, including drafting proposals that do not amount to a war victory by the Houths a scenario many consider impossible to achieve.

In exchange, the Houths demand that Saudi Arabia remove what they consider a maritime and air blockade over territories under their control.

Iran managed successfully to avoid discussing its nuclear programme during its meeting with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Instead, he assured that attention would focus on a broader discussion on a long-term vision of regional security a vision that would include Gulf and Iran states, also aimed at reducing or ending the US presence in the Middle East.

A new non-aggression pact in which Iran would no longer be isolated from the rest of Gulf countries as it has been since the Islamic Revolution of 1979 would meet Iran’s top strategic goal.

A joint commitment to that goal, undertaken by six Gulf states, could make it easier for Iran to accept tactical concessions perhaps difficult ʹ that would be requested in connection with its nuclear programme.

One of the main supporters of this comprehensive security plan, Oman’s Foreign Minister, Badr Albusadi, said he believes the American administration understands this is the direction the region is heading in.

He declared: I believe that if Iran is fully involved in this vision where all of us, eight countries, live in peace with the rest of the world economic potential will be extraordinary, both for us in the region and for those outside it who choose to become part of this development. We have discussed this extensively during talks between Iran and the United States, and I think there is a consensus that this will be the direction to follow, once a final agreement is reached.

During a televised activity in Iran this week, Arghchi stressed the importance of Iran’s new security pact for the post-war period, saying: The last few days have been talked about a new war, but I’m already thinking about the post-war period. Whether there is a war or not, our policies remain the same. /Telegraphy/