A temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains fragile heading into weekend talks in Pakistan. A U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, will be in Islamabad to negotiate a permanent peace deal. “We’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive, so we’re going to try to have a positive negotiation. The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’re going to see,” Vance said. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, said two agreed-upon points must be established ahead of this weekend’s meeting: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets. “These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,” he wrote on social media.President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran end its nuclear weapons program and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The president said today that Iranians have “no cards” except “short-term extortion of the world by using international waterways” and added that they are only alive today to negotiate.On Wednesday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said, “The immediate priority of the president is the reopening of the Strait without any limitations, whether in the form of tolls or otherwise.” Later that day, Trump demanded Iran stop reportedly charging fees on tankers that commute through the waterway.Ceasefire disagreementTrump and Iranian leaders disagreed this week over whether a pause in fighting between Israel and Lebanon was included in the temporary agreement. Vance clarified that a ceasefire between those countries was never part of the U.S. deal. “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case.” The vice president continued, “What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran and the ceasefire would be focused on America’s allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later approved direct negotiations with Lebanon but stated that a ceasefire is “not on the table.” Those talks are reportedly expected to take place in the U.S. next week. Pakistan’s involvementExperts say countries in the Arabian Peninsula, such as Qatar and Oman, have historically been involved in U.S.-Iran negotiations. However, Pakistan stepped in this time after those nations were attacked by Iran. While mediation comes with economic and energy security risks, experts note that Islamabad has experience in facilitating regional conflicts. Pakistan previously played roles in mediating regional conflicts, including helping develop diplomatic ties between the U.S. and China during President Richard Nixon’s administration and serving as a go-between for the U.S. and the Afghan Taliban ahead of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.Watch for the latest reporting on ceasefire talks:
A temporary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains fragile heading into weekend talks in Pakistan. A U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, will be in Islamabad to negotiate a permanent peace deal.
“We’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re [Iran] going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive, so we’re going to try to have a positive negotiation. The president gave us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’re going to see,” Vance said.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, said two agreed-upon points must be established ahead of this weekend’s meeting: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets. “These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,” he wrote on social media.
President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran end its nuclear weapons program and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The president said today that Iranians have “no cards” except “short-term extortion of the world by using international waterways” and added that they are only alive today to negotiate.
On Wednesday, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said, “The immediate priority of the president is the reopening of the Strait without any limitations, whether in the form of tolls or otherwise.” Later that day, Trump demanded Iran stop reportedly charging fees on tankers that commute through the waterway.
Ceasefire disagreement
Trump and Iranian leaders disagreed this week over whether a pause in fighting between Israel and Lebanon was included in the temporary agreement.
Vance clarified that a ceasefire between those countries was never part of the U.S. deal. “I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn’t. We never made that promise. We never indicated that was going to be the case.” The vice president continued, “What we said is that the ceasefire would be focused on Iran and the ceasefire would be focused on America’s allies, both Israel and the Gulf Arab states.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later approved direct negotiations with Lebanon but stated that a ceasefire is “not on the table.” Those talks are reportedly expected to take place in the U.S. next week.
Pakistan’s involvement
Experts say countries in the Arabian Peninsula, such as Qatar and Oman, have historically been involved in U.S.-Iran negotiations. However, Pakistan stepped in this time after those nations were attacked by Iran. While mediation comes with economic and energy security risks, experts note that Islamabad has experience in facilitating regional conflicts.
Pakistan previously played roles in mediating regional conflicts, including helping develop diplomatic ties between the U.S. and China during President Richard Nixon’s administration and serving as a go-between for the U.S. and the Afghan Taliban ahead of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Watch for the latest reporting on ceasefire talks:
