Peace negotiations between Iran and the United States are set to begin on Saturday in Pakistan, marked by mutual distrust displayed by both parties.
“We have good intentions, but we do not trust,” declared influential Iranian Parliament President Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf upon his arrival in Islamabad Friday night, leading a delegation of over 70 people.
Past negotiations with the United States have always ended in “failures and broken promises,” emphasized the official, as reported by Iranian state television.
Prior to his arrival, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also warned that “two measures agreed upon by the parties” must be implemented before any negotiations, including “a ceasefire in Lebanon” and “the freezing of Iran’s assets.”
However, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought to reassure about the talks, affirming on Friday during a national address that negotiations would be held “to establish peace.”
“In Good Faith”
Before departing for Islamabad, US Vice President JD Vance – leading the US delegation – urged Tehran not to “play games” with Washington while promising to “try to conduct positive negotiations.”
“If the Iranians are ready to negotiate in good faith, we are more than willing to extend our hand,” he stated.
The arrival of JD Vance is scheduled for Saturday morning, accompanied by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump.
Islamabad, under high security, has transformed into a ghost town ahead of the negotiations set to take place in a luxury hotel.
In Tehran, Iranians expressed doubts to AFP, including a 30-year-old resident who spoke anonymously.
“We should not take Trump so seriously. He wants to wipe out a civilization from the map and twelve hours later, he implements a ceasefire that is not based on anything,” he summarized.
Lebanon-Israel Talks
Since the two-week truce on Tuesday, Tehran and Washington also differ on the inclusion of Lebanon in the agreement. Israel is determined to continue its fight against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah there.
Israel reported 357 deaths in Lebanon from airstrikes on Wednesday and claimed to have killed 180 Hezbollah fighters that day.
These bombings are the deadliest in the country since the start of the Middle East conflict on February 28.
On Friday, new strikes killed 13 security force members in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese state news agency.
In Israel, around thirty shots from Lebanon on Friday caused material damage, according to the army.
Parallel to the Iranian-American discussions, talks are scheduled for Tuesday between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, according to the Lebanese presidency.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously approved “direct negotiations.”
The Hezbollah rejected this initiative, with its leader Na’im Qassem calling on Lebanese officials not to make “unwarranted concessions” to Israel.
In response, Israel’s ambassador to the US stated on Friday that they refused to discuss a ceasefire with Hezbollah during these talks.
Strait of Hormuz and Nuclear Issue
Another issue in negotiations among all conflicting parties is the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime traffic remains disrupted, as Iran’s reopening of the strategic trade passage was a condition of the ceasefire.
Donald Trump claimed Iran had “no card to play” except blocking this vital commercial waterway for global oil transportation. The US president threatened new strikes if discussions fail.
Hours later, he assured the press that the strait would “soon be open,” with or without Iranians.
Trump believes it will open automatically because Iran “does not make money otherwise.”
The two adversaries also disagree on the crucial nuclear issue.
The head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization ruled out any restrictions on uranium enrichment, a fundamental demand of the US and Israel accusing Tehran of seeking to acquire atomic weapons. Iran defends its right to civilian nuclear energy.
