Difficult to Predict the Outcome of US-Iran Talks, Experts
Islamabad – 7 February 2026 (MT Team) : The Institute of Regional Studies held a roundtable event to address the ongoing war-scenario between the US and Iran. While opening the discussion, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President IRS, mentioned that dire economic conditions made the governance increasingly difficult. It also prompted the external actors like the US and Israel to exploit the grievances of the masses, he argued. Amb Jauhar was of the view that strong statements issued by President Trump against Iran was rather a pressuring tactic to compel Iran for negotiations.
Defense Analyst, Rear Admiral (R), Faisal Ali Shah, emphasized that Iran should not be understood solely through the western perspective as the system was institutionalized even to the very basic level.
According to him, the protests were largely directed against specific policies rather than demanding the complete overthrow of the system. He further argued that external shocks did not trigger a full-scale uprising as seen during the 12-day war because many citizens prioritized stability and security over the foreign intervention. He noted that the Iranian protests were often misread and calls for external intervention were strategically unrealistic.
Muhammad Hussain Baqeri, Chairman Iqbal Forum, opined that Iranian society is in a transitional phase shaped by the evolving political and social dynamics. Therefore, without having comprehensive security policies, he argued, the long-term stability in social sphere was unlikely.
Alireza Nader from Washington D.C. described that Iranian diaspora put pressure on the US to undertake a decisive action against the Iranian government. He, nevertheless, admitted that any U.S. military action carried a high risk of escalation, potentially expanding into a broader regional conflict.
Nader acknowledged that there remained a limited possibility of diplomacy between the US and Iran but significant concessions were unlikely to be made.
Jawed Rana, Editor of The Counter Narrative, told the audience that Iran’s institutional and governmental structures remained strong and resilient despite economic hardships. He argued that the Iranian institutions are powerful which were able to contain the economic unrest. He suggested that the U.S. and Israel might anticipate internal instability as a strategic opportunity but a large-scale war is unlikely. Nonetheless, if negotiations fail a limited strike remains a possibility, Mr. Rana concluded.
