AS President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran with every passing moment, powerful naval fleets had already entered the region.

It appeared as though there was a brief pause before a potential war. At such a time, I was reminded of Mr. Reza Amiri Moghaddam, the Iranian Ambassador, whom I happened to meet several times in close succession. One meeting included the distinguished Persian scholar, former Vice Chancellor of the University of the Punjab and head of the National Language Promotion Institute, Professor Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar. Another was attended by respected intellectuals including Khurshid Ahmad Nadeem and Allama Arif Hussain Wahidi. These meetings took place at the headquarters of the National Rahmat-ul-lil-Alameen and Khatam-un-Nabiyyin Authority during the Ambassador’s visit. While our discussions with Mr. Amiri Moghaddam were not directly focused on immediate developments, they were nevertheless useful in understanding future risks and the possible consequences of a military confrontation.

Is a war imminent? No one can answer this with certainty. Much depends on President Trump’s unpredictable temperament—what he declares at one moment and reverses the next. Still, his statements merit attention. His current position suggests that while military pressure is being increased around Iran, he does not desire an outright conflict. In practical terms, this means Washington wants Iran........

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