TEHRAN – Iran and the United States are scheduled to hold talks in Islamabad on Saturday following a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The ceasefire was concluded after 40 days of illegal and unprovoked invasion of Iran by the United States and Israel, which began on February 28th.
The Iranian government has made it clear that there are conditions for participating in the talks. Iranian officials on Wednesday warned that the United States could withdraw from negotiations if it fails to fully implement key provisions of Iran’s 10-point Ceasefire Framework, the plan on which the ceasefire agreement is based.
Lebanon at the center of Iranian plans
One of the central conflicts concerns Lebanon. Iranian officials insist that Israeli military operations in Lebanon must cease as part of the ceasefire. According to the 10-point plan, the agreement brokered by Islamabad covered all fronts of the conflict, including Lebanon.
Importantly, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said that the ceasefire also included Lebanon, reinforcing Iran’s interpretation that hostilities in Lebanon were intended to cease under the agreement. His comments directly contradict US claims that Lebanon is not party to the agreement.
U.S. officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, insist that the ceasefire is limited to direct hostilities between the United States and Iran and does not explicitly limit Israeli actions in Lebanon. Although they characterize the disagreement as a matter of interpretation, the Iranian government insists the terms were clearly communicated during Pakistan’s mediation efforts.
Iran sets clear preconditions
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who will head the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, said two mutually agreed measures remain unfulfilled: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blockaded assets before negotiations begin.
Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanshi also reiterated that Iran’s 10-point proposal will form the basis of negotiations. He stressed that the Islamic Republic supports diplomacy based on mutual respect and reliable guarantees, rather than arrangements that allow adversaries to reunite and renew aggression.
“Iran has always welcomed dialogue, but not negotiations based on deception and false premises,” he said.
Diplomacy alongside deterrence
Iran maintains that its military action is legitimate self-defense under the United Nations Charter. Tehran also reaffirmed its good neighbor policy, while warning that any country that allows its territory or facilities to be used to attack Iran will be considered complicit in aggression.
For Tehran, the issue is not just a procedural one, but fundamentally one of trust and credibility. Iranian officials argue that ambiguity over the scope of the ceasefire risks undermining the fragile diplomatic opening created by Pakistan’s mediation. From Iran’s perspective, a ceasefire that excludes Lebanon would amount to a selective suspension rather than true détente, allowing continued instability in the region.
Iranian policymakers argue that the 10-point framework is designed to prevent just such loopholes. They describe it as a comprehensive roadmap that addresses not only the cessation of hostilities, but also broader guarantees aimed at preventing a return to war. The Iranian government insists that a meaningful diplomatic process must be built on concrete actions, including sanctions relief and respect for Iran’s sovereignty, rather than rhetorical promises.
Decisive moment of Islamabad talks
Tehran officials also pointed to the resilience Iran has shown during the 40-day conflict. They claim that despite sustained military pressure, the Islamic Republic has maintained its defense capabilities and national unity. In this context, Iran portrays its willingness to negotiate as a sign of confidence and responsibility rather than weakness.
At the same time, Iranian leaders have emphasized that diplomacy and deterrence are closely linked. While expressing readiness for constructive dialogue in Islamabad, the Iranian government reiterated that it would respond firmly to any new aggression. This dual message reflects Iran’s long-standing strategic principles: staunch defense of national interests and openness to negotiation.
The upcoming Islamabad talks will therefore be an important diplomatic test. The Iranian government maintains that sustainable peace requires full implementation of ceasefires in all theaters, including Lebanon, alongside concrete confidence-building measures.
Whether the U.S. government agrees to the terms laid out in Pakistan’s mediation efforts could determine whether negotiations move forward or stall before they even begin.