Iran-U.S. negotiations begin in Islamabad

The Iranian-American negotiations aimed at putting an end to the war in the Middle East began Saturday in Islamabad, announced Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who received both delegations separately. "As the Islamabad talks began, the prime minister (...) met J.D. Vance," the U.S. vice president leading his country's delegation, Mr. Sharif's office said in a statement.

Before the discussions, which are starting in an atmosphere of deep mistrust and whose agenda or format — direct or indirect — has not been specified, the prime minister also met with the Iranian delegation. "Welcoming the commitment of both delegations to engage in constructive dialogue, the prime minister expressed hope that these talks would lead to lasting peace in the region."

The war, triggered on Feb. 28 by an Israeli-American offensive against Iran, has caused thousands of deaths, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and has shaken the global economy.

The meeting took place at the Serena Hotel, according to Iranian state television. Iran was to decide at its conclusion whether or not to begin negotiations later in the day, according to the Iranian news agency Fars.

It was at the same hotel that J.D. Vance arrived around noon local time, shortly after his landing in Islamabad, which has become a ghost town under intense security. He is to lead the U.S. delegation, which also includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.

Pakistan, for its part, has assembled a team of experts to contribute to discussions on maritime trafficking, nuclear issues and other key topics, a diplomatic source close to the matter told AFP.

The event is being closely watched by other countries involved in the diplomatic efforts, such as Egypt, Turkey and China, with which Pakistan continues to coordinate, the source added.

‘Total mistrust’

Before meeting in Islamabad, each side issued warnings. Iran is approaching the negotiations "in an atmosphere of total mistrust, due to repeated violations by the United States of its commitments," Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told his German counterpart Johann Wadephul on Friday, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.

According to the influential speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who leads the Iranian delegation, Iran has set two preconditions: "a cease-fire in Lebanon," where Israel is at war with Hezbollah, supported by Tehran, and "the unfreezing of Iranian assets." "If we are dealing with representatives of 'Israel first,' there will be no agreement," stated Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on X.

Before his arrival in Pakistan, J.D. Vance also warned Iran: "If they try to play us, they will see our negotiating team will not be very receptive." Nevertheless, he assured that he would "try to conduct positive negotiations."

‘Make or break’

Sharif pointed out that the stage ahead was "difficult" for "establishing a lasting truce and resolving delicate issues through diplomatic means." "This is what, in English, we call a 'make or break' stage," he added. In Iran, a country suffering from an internet blackout imposed by the authorities, residents shared their doubts with AFP.

"We shouldn't take Trump so seriously. He wants to wipe a civilization off the map, and twelve hours later, he calls for a cease-fire that rests on nothing," summarized a 30-year-old resident anonymously.

After many ultimatums, threats and reversals since the start of the war that has left thousands dead, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, Donald Trump declared Friday that Iran had "no cards in hand" to negotiate except for the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route for the world's oil from the Gulf, almost entirely closed off by Iran in retaliation. "It will open automatically" because Iran "makes no money otherwise," he asserted, amid market uncertainty.

Lebanon-Israel talks

Since the truce, Tehran and Washington have clashed over whether to include Lebanon in a peace agreement. Israel is determined to continue its fight there against Hezbollah. On Wednesday, Israel carried out the deadliest strikes of this war in Lebanon, with at least 357 dead in a single day, according to the latest tally. The U.S. ally said it killed 180 Hezbollah fighters that day.

The border area between the two countries remains tense. Early Saturday morning, Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in early March, claimed to have launched drone and rocket attacks on Israeli soldiers stationed in southern Lebanon and on Israeli towns near the border.

According to the Lebanese presidency, talks are to take place Tuesday between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, which Hezbollah has rejected.