The parallels could not be more poignant. Days before the 107th anniversary of a US president signing a 14-point peace agenda in a gilded hall at Versailles, another followed suit at the sprawling palace outside Paris. More than a century ago, it took Woodrow Wilson months after signing to reconcile competing proposals and secure peace after World War I. This time, the hope is that Donald Trump will expend enough political capital to iron out remaining differences and curb Israel’s misguided hostility, delivering a lasting peace in West Asia.
In the 114 days since Israel and the US launched their war against Iran, the world has oscillated repeatedly between hope and despair, with temporary ceasefires giving way to renewed hostilities. On Sunday, US and Iranian negotiators met in the Swiss city of Bürgenstock, along with Pakistani and Qatari mediators, to advance the 14-point memorandum of understanding towards a peace pact expected by mid-August. It seemed clear to all parties that the most pressing issue was bringing in someone who was not in the room. The President and Vice President of the US issued their strongest warnings to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to toe the line drawn by their biggest benefactor. For the other side, the Iranian foreign ministry said that the momentum towards peace will depend on Israel’s actions in Lebanon. Limits on Iran’s nuclear options and a mechanism to keep the Strait of Hormuz open were other technical items on the agenda, along with the flow of funds to Iran that the memorandum of understanding promises.
