Tehran and Washington have exchanged warnings and expressions of mistrust ahead of high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad, which Pakistan’s prime minister has described as a “make-or-break moment” in efforts to transform a fragile ceasefire into a broader agreement.
The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has arrived with a message of deep scepticism. Ghalibaf said Tehran approached the talks with “goodwill,” despite Washington attacking Iran “twice within less than a year” during negotiations. Iran’s team is notably broad, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for political matters, Abdolnaser Hemmati for economic issues, Ali Akbar Ahmadian for military affairs, and Esmaeil Baqaei for legal matters.
The US side, headed by Vice President JD Vance, has projected a similar mix of cautious optimism and firmness. Vance said he expected productive talks but warned Iran not to “play” the United States. President Donald Trump has added to the pressure, stating the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened “with or without” Tehran’s cooperation and reportedly preparing military options should negotiations fail. “We don’t need a back-up plan… we’ve hit them hard, our military is amazing,” Trump told journalists after wishing Vance “luck.”
Trump has also outlined his vision for a successful deal, saying: “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99% of it,” while asserting that the Strait of Hormuz “will open automatically.” Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are also expected in Islamabad, though public reporting has offered few confirmed details about the full US delegation.
The Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday morning. Indirect negotiations are expected to begin later in the day, contingent on Israeli attacks on Lebanon ceasing. Israeli strikes have reportedly killed at least 1,953 people in Lebanon since 2 March, including more than 300 killed in Wednesday’s bombardment following the announcement of the fragile ceasefire.
The talks in Islamabad come at a critical juncture, with both sides signalling their readiness to walk away if their core demands are not met. The outcome could determine the future stability of the region and the trajectory of Iran-US relations for years to come.
