Opinions of Tuesday, 19 May 2026

Columnist: Kofi Thompson

Can a guardrailed Iranian nuclear deal unlock peace in the Middle East?

A file photo of collapsed building in Iran due to the war A file photo of collapsed building in Iran due to the war

Dear critical reader, a workable path to defuse the Iran nuclear crisis at the core of the ongoing Iran war requires good faith, honestly brokered sequencing of verification, sanctions relief, and regional peace into one framework.

First, the UN Security Council should mandate a multinational technical team of Pakistani, Israeli, American, and French scientists under IAEA auspices to guardrail Iran’s nuclear programme. In exchange for managed, real-time access to declared facilities, the US and EU would begin phased sanctions relief on trade, humanitarian, and energy sectors. This gives Iran immediate economic relief while building verifiable trust.

Second, Iran, Israel, and the Gulf states would enter mediated talks to establish a regional non-aggression pact. The pact would include dispute mechanisms, limits on proxy activity, and security guarantees. As concrete milestones are met, sanctions relief would expand. The goal is to convert bilateral hostility into a multilateral security architecture.

Third, ratification of the pact triggers a formal peace agreement. At that point, Gulf states provide compensation for war damage as part of the peace dividend, and full sanctions lifting normalises Iran’s trade, finance, and investment links.

This structure ties each concession to a verifiable step, making peaceful coexistence the mechanism by which the region unlocks its economic and security dividends. No vague promises—just staggered incentives with real costs for walking away. That will keep the Strait of Hormuz permanently open, wouldn’t it? Haaba.