IRAN has cast fresh uncertainty over planned negotiations with the United States after insisting that key preconditions must be met, despite a fragile ceasefire halting weeks of direct conflict.
Reuters cited on Saturday that a delegation led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi arrived in Pakistan’s capital on Friday for high-stakes talks, even as Tehran signalled it would not proceed without prior commitments from Washington.
The diplomatic push follows a two-week ceasefire announced by Donald Trump earlier this week, pausing a six-week war that saw U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
However, the truce has failed to resolve broader tensions, including Iran’s continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely disrupted global energy supplies, and ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Qalibaf said negotiations would not begin until the United States fulfils earlier commitments, including unfreezing Iranian assets and securing a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Speaking from Islamabad, he underscored Tehran’s scepticism towards Washington while leaving the door open to diplomacy.
Iran “had goodwill towards negotiations but no trust in the United States”, adding that it was ready to reach a deal if Washington offered “a genuine agreement” and recognised Iran’s rights, according to state media.
The United States has yet to formally respond to those demands, but Trump struck a combative tone in a social media post.
"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!" he said.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is set to lead the American delegation, expressed cautious optimism but warned against brinkmanship.
"If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive," he said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the talks as a verdictive moment in efforts to secure a lasting peace.
"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," Sharif said.
Despite the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, violence continues elsewhere in the region. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have persisted, with Beirut reporting heavy casualties, while Hezbollah has responded with rocket fire into northern Israel.
Israel and the United States have both stated that operations against Hezbollah fall outside the scope of the Iran ceasefire, underscoring the fragmented nature of the conflict.
Iran’s hardened negotiating stance follows remarks by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has demanded compensation for wartime damage and vowed accountability.
"We will certainly not leave unpunished the criminal aggressors who attacked our country," he said.
Tehran is also seeking sweeping concessions, including the lifting of long-standing sanctions and recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would significantly alter regional power dynamics.
The continued disruption to energy flows has already fed inflationary pressures worldwide, with recent U.S. data showing consumer prices rising sharply, highlighting the global economic stakes tied to the crisis. - April 11, 2026
