بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Al-Rayah Newspaper - Issue 601 - 27/05/2026
By: Ustadh Asaad Mansour
America is in a real bind, with matters becoming increasingly confused and complex. At times, the US threatens a decisive blow against Iran, but will that achieve its goal? At other times, the US calls for negotiations and the signing of an agreement.
Its president, Trump, afflicted with megalomania, goes to China, but with his head bowed, hoping to get it to pressure Iran into accepting his terms, only to return empty-handed. Trump claimed on 15 May 2026 that “We did discuss Iran. We feel very similar about [how] we want it to end,” but added that “But at the same time he said they buy a lot of their oil there, and they’d like to keep doing that.” This indicates that he failed to achieve his goal of getting China to pressure Iran into halting trade, which is itself a violation of American sanctions against Iran. China has not adhered to these sanctions and purchases approximately 80% of Iran’s oil exports.
This similarity is evident in the White House factsheet issued on May 17, 2026, which read, “Both leaders agreed Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, called to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and agreed that no country or organization can be allowed to charge tolls.” These matters are in China’s interest, as it does not want anyone to control the Strait and impose fees on its ships, nor does it want Iran to become a nuclear power, which it fears might pose a future threat due to Iran being a Muslim country. China fears the resurgence of Islam as a global superpower, a fear manifested in its restrictions on Muslims within its borders and its fight against Islamic groups in Central Asia, where it has partnered with Central Asian states and Russia through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
In response to the American statement on May 15, 2026, the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, “There is no need for this war, which should never have happened in the first place, to continue... to respond to the call of the international community and jointly keep the global supply chains stable and unimpeded.” This means that China opposes a war on Iran because it does not want an American victory, as this would strengthen its position against the US.
The Chinese president’s response came when Russian President Putin visited him, and they issued a “Joint Statement on Advocating Global Multipolarity and New Types of International Relations” on May 20, 2026, saying, “Some countries arbitrarily manipulate international affairs, impose their interests worldwide with colonial-era thinking, and restrict the development of other sovereign nations [but this has] completely failed.” This confirms that Trump did not achieve his goal with China, as this statement with Russia rejected its demands.
Despairing of China, the US resorted to using its agents in Pakistan to resume negotiations and sign an agreement. The army chief of Pakistan and de facto ruler, Asim Munir, who enjoys US trust due to his strong loyalty, visited Iran on May 23, 2026, and met with its president, foreign minister, speaker of parliament, and leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The media wing of the armed forces, the ISPR, stated on 23 May 2026 that Munir “concluded a short but highly productive official visit to Iran... The intensive negotiations over the last twenty-four hours have resulted in encouraging progress towards a final understanding.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, announced on 23 May 2026 that “Iran has observed a trend toward rapprochement after weeks of talks with the United States. However, this does not necessarily mean reaching an understanding on the important issues, but rather aims for a mutually acceptable settlement. The final stage does not include details of the nuclear file or sanctions, and these will be discussed after reaching an understanding with Washington. The issue of releasing frozen Iranian assets is on the table, and discussions on the nuclear file will begin within 30 to 60 days, depending on the next stages of the negotiations. Pakistan is an official mediator in the talks, and Qatar is also trying to help facilitate them.”
On May 23, 2026, Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that “final aspects and details” of a “Memorandum of Understanding” are still being discussed and “will be announced shortly”, but said the strait of Hormuz will be opened as part of the deal. “An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries,” Trump posted. His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said during a visit to India that “news” might arrive “later today”, even as Trump continued to threaten striking Iran.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif followed suit, declaring on 24 May 2026, “Pakistan will continue its peace efforts with utmost sincerity and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon.” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar posted on X, on 24 May 2026, “Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at lasting peace, mutual respect, and regional stability. The achievements of these negotiations offer grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach InshaAllah.” Dar praised US President Trump and his commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, despite Trump’s own crimes of aggression against Iran, his support for the Jewish entity's aggression against Lebanon, and his perpetration of genocide and destruction in Gaza.
The Washington Post quoted a Pakistani official as stating that the Pakistani army chief sought to narrow the gaps between two key issues under discussion in the talks: control of the Strait of Hormuz and the future of the Iranian nuclear program. The newspaper added that Iranian officials want to postpone talks on the nuclear program until an agreement is reached to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
It is understood from all statements, by all parties, that an agreement between America and Iran is possible, focusing on ending the war, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, and postponing negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.
The Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported that the draft agreement stipulates a ceasefire by both sides and their allies in the region. This includes preventing the Jewish entity from attacking Iran and its allies in the region, as well as lifting sanctions on Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemicals, and releasing a portion of its frozen assets in the first phase.
This demonstrates America’s failure in its war. It has begun discussing the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, which didn’t exist before and was created because of America. The strait was previously open, unarmed, and free of tolls. America’s goal was to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program and subjugate it to become a subordinate state, but this has not been achieved.
Iran is now in a position to preserve its independence resist American pressure, and refuse to accept all of America’s conditions. Its position has been strengthened by China’s stance, which refused to pressure Iran and insisted on continuing trade, crucial for Iran’s self-financing under American and European sanctions. Russia’s opposition to America’s war and its efforts to forge closer ties with China have also contributed to this, as America has failed to drive a wedge between them. Qatar, which has overlooked Iranian attacks on its territory under the pretext of participating in finalizing an agreement between the two sides, has also played a role.
Thus, America has lost another military battle with Muslims, following its defeats in Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. However, efforts must be made to defeat it politically, so that it retains no political influence, whether through political allegiance, subservience, or otherwise, and so that it is diminished in the eyes of Muslims. This confirms that they are capable of defeating it and expelling it from the region when the Second Khilafah Rashidah (Rightly Guided Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood, is established soon, by the Permission of Allah (swt).