Senior Iranian Officials Arrive in Pakistan for U.S. Negotiations; Lebanon-Israel Talks Set for Washington Next Week
Agence France-Presse, Tehran, 10th — Iran's state television reported today that a high-level delegation from Iran has arrived in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, preparing to hold ceasefire negotiations with the United States; meanwhile, the Lebanese presidential palace announced that talks between Lebanon and Israel will take place in Washington next week.
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) stated on its official website that the Iranian delegation is led by Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other officials responsible for security and economics.
Iran reiterated its position: negotiations will only begin if the United States accepts Iran’s preconditions.
Previously, Ghalibaf stated that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the "lifting of restrictions on Iran’s frozen assets" are prerequisites for engaging in talks with the U.S. delegation headed by Vice President JD Vance.
Official sources said the talks in Islamabad would address sensitive issues, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran began, President Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s handling of what should be a re-opened strategic waterway.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he wrote: “It seems Iranians don’t realize they have absolutely no leverage—except for short-term blackmail using international shipping lanes… The only reason they still exist today is because of negotiations!”
Tehran, meanwhile, expressed outrage over Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, insisting that Lebanon should also be covered under the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked both the U.S. and Iran for agreeing to meet, but noted that the negotiations would be extremely difficult.
In a televised address, he said: “A temporary ceasefire has been declared, but now a more challenging phase lies ahead—the achievement of lasting peace and resolving complex issues through negotiation.”
Additionally, the Lebanese presidential palace announced today that talks will be held in Washington next week with Israel to discuss a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as the possibility of launching negotiations between the two sides.
The Lebanese presidential statement noted that the Lebanese ambassador to the U.S., the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., and the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon have already held their first phone conference this evening.
According to the statement, “All parties agreed during the call that the first formal meeting will be held on the 14th at the U.S. Department of State to discuss the announcement of a ceasefire and the timing for launching negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. mediation.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862126229780491/
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