Iran and US Prepare for High-Stakes Talks in Pakistan Amid Escalating Tensions and Trump’s Tough Stance

(SeaPRwire) –   Tehran and Washington have traded reciprocal warnings and expressions of mistrust ahead of critical negotiations in Islamabad

Delegations from Iran and the U.S. are gathering in Islamabad for what Pakistan’s prime minister describes as a “make-or-break moment” in attempts to turn a tenuous ceasefire into a more comprehensive agreement.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is leading the Iranian delegation, while U.S. Vice President JD Vance heads the American team.

Iran has arrived with a message of profound mistrust. Ghalibaf stated that Tehran had “goodwill,” despite Washington attacking Iran “twice within less than a year” during ongoing negotiations.

Vance adopted a similar stance, noting earlier that he expected productive talks while warning Iran not to “play” the U.S.

President Donald Trump, for his part, has conveyed both confidence and threats in equal measure, saying the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened “with or without” Tehran’s cooperation as he reportedly prepares military options should the talks collapse.

“We don’t need a back-up plan … we’ve hit them hard, our military is amazing,” Trump told journalists after wishing Vance “luck”.

Key developments:

• Trump has outlined what a good deal with Iran entails, saying: “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99% of it,” while adding that the Strait of Hormuz “will open automatically”.

• Iran’s delegation reflects the broad scope Tehran is applying to the negotiations, going far beyond a narrow nuclear discussion. Alongside Ghalibaf are Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who leads the political track; Abdolnaser Hemmati, heading the economic side; Ali Akbar Ahmadian, overseeing the military file; and Esmaeil Baqaei, handling legal matters.

• The U.S. side appears more focused, with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also expected in Islamabad, though public reports have offered few confirmed details about the delegation’s composition.

• The Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday morning. Indirect negotiations would reportedly begin later that day if Israeli attacks on Lebanon cease.

• Israeli strikes have reportedly killed at least 1,953 people in Lebanon since March 2, including more than 300 in Wednesday’s bombardment following the announcement of the fragile ceasefire.

Follow our live coverage below for ongoing updates. You can also read our previous updates here.