The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, arrived in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, for talks with Iranian authorities about the war. He is leading a delegation that includes the president’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. According to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, received Vance.
In a statement, the ministry said that Dar praised the U.S. commitment to lasting peace and stability and said he hoped the parties would “engage constructively.” The Iranian delegation, led by the Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, arrived on Friday night, the 10th.
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Before boarding, Vance warned Iran not to mess with the United States. Hours later, Qalibaf stated that the discussions would only occur if there is an Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that the country enters the talks with deep skepticism and warned that it would react if attacked.
Regional officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity, that representatives from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, China, and Qatar are in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate the talks.
The Iranian state television reported that Qalibaf’s team met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who said that the conflict was entering a difficult phase and at a moment “now or never.”
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The streets of Pakistan’s capital are deserted, with security forces blocking roads. Authorities have urged residents to stay at home, and the city appears to be under curfew.
Israel and Lebanon
The negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are set to begin on Tuesday, the 14th, in Washington, according to the office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday the 10th.
Israel wants the Lebanese government to take responsibility for disarming Hezbollah, as was provided for in a November 2024 ceasefire. But it is unclear whether the Lebanese army can confiscate weapons from the militant group, which has resisted efforts to curb its power for decades.
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Israel’s insistence that the ceasefire in Iran does not include a pause in its fight with Hezbollah threatened to derail the agreement. On the day the truce was announced, Israel bombed Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
