Iranian Delegation Arrives in Islamabad for ‘Make-or-Break’ Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Tensions
Iran’s negotiating team landed in Islamabad on Friday for critical peace discussions with the United States. This visit comes amid Tehran’s insistence on addressing specific measures before the talks can proceed, casting uncertainty over the scheduled meetings in Pakistan.
Ceasefire Announcement and Its Implications
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a two-week ceasefire in the ongoing six-week conflict, just hours before a deadline that he had warned could lead to severe consequences for Iran. The ceasefire has temporarily halted U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. However, it has not resolved the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has significantly disrupted global energy supplies, nor has it eased the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon.
Iran’s parliamentary Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, stated on X that Washington had previously agreed to unblock Iranian assets and establish a ceasefire in Lebanon. He emphasized that negotiations would not commence until those commitments were fulfilled.
Composition of the Iranian Delegation
According to Iranian state media, Qalibaf’s delegation includes high-ranking political, military, and economic officials, such as Iran’s foreign minister, the secretary of the defense council, the central bank governor, and several members of parliament. While the White House has yet to respond to Iran’s demands, Trump remarked on social media that the only reason for Iran’s survival was to negotiate a deal.
Trump stated, “The Iranians don’t seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short-term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!”
Expectations from the U.S. Delegation
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who will lead the American delegation, expressed optimism about the potential outcomes of the talks. However, he cautioned, “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”
Iran has been unable to access tens of billions of dollars in foreign bank assets, primarily due to U.S. sanctions affecting its banking and energy sectors.
Stakes of the Negotiations
In a national address on Friday night, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif outlined the stakes involved in the discussions. He noted, “The permanent ceasefire is the next difficult phase, which is to resolve the complicated issues through negotiation. This, as called in English, is a make-or-break phase.”
Ongoing Israeli-Hezbollah Conflict
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues, with both the U.S. and Israel asserting that operations against Hezbollah are not part of the agreed ceasefire. Lebanon’s presidency reported that a telephone conversation took place between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington on Friday, aimed at securing a ceasefire and initiating negotiations. The two sides have agreed to hold an initial meeting on Tuesday at the U.S. State Department under American mediation.
Following the ceasefire announcement, Israel launched a significant attack, resulting in over 350 fatalities from surprise strikes on densely populated areas, according to Lebanese authorities. Israeli airstrikes persisted across southern Lebanon on Friday, with one strike on a government building in Nabatieh reportedly killing 13 members of Lebanon’s state security forces.
Hezbollah responded by launching rocket salvos at northern Israeli towns, as reported through its Telegram channel. Lebanese authorities have indicated that at least 1,953 individuals have died due to Israeli strikes since March 2.
Iran’s Stance Ahead of Negotiations
The hardline approach taken by Iran’s leadership prior to the negotiations follows a strong message from the new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since succeeding his father, who was killed on the first day of the war, stated that Iran would demand compensation for all wartime damages. He asserted, “We will certainly not leave unpunished the criminal aggressors who attacked our country.”
Despite Trump’s claims of victory and the degradation of Iran’s military capabilities, the conflict has not met many of its initial objectives, such as diminishing Iran’s ability to strike its neighbors or dismantling its nuclear program. Iran continues to possess missiles and drones capable of reaching its neighbors, along with a stockpile of over 400 kg (900 pounds) of uranium enriched to levels near those required for nuclear weapons.
Tehran’s Agenda at the Talks
Tehran’s agenda for the negotiations includes significant concessions, such as the lifting of sanctions that have crippled its economy for years and recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz. This would enable Iran to collect transit fees and control access, marking a substantial shift in regional power dynamics.
As of Friday, Iranian vessels were navigating the Strait of Hormuz without obstruction, while ships from other nations remained restricted. The disruption to energy supplies has contributed to rising inflation and slowed the global economy, with lasting effects expected even if the strait is reopened.
Recent U.S. inflation data released on Friday indicated a 0.9 percent increase in consumer prices for March, the fastest rate since the mid-2022 inflation surge that impacted support for Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden.
As reported by www.arnnewscentre.ae.
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Published on 2026-04-11 00:57:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk