There is a ceasefire in Iran, but an agreement still seems distant and it is unclear whether talks expected to take place this weekend in Pakistan will bring the parties closer to a solution.
In Lebanon, Israeli attacks have been scaled back under the direction of US President Donald Trump, but rocket fire from Hezbollah continues. As Islamabad awaits the arrival of the parties, here's a closer look at what to expect in the Pakistani capital.
Who is participating in the talks?
Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation, along with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff. Vance is not considered one of the strongest supporters of the war within Trump's inner circle. He has consistently expressed skepticism about military intervention and has spoken out in the past against sending forces into an open-ended war.
Iran has not officially announced its delegation, but local media reports that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will lead it. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also expected to attend, along with senior officials from the Revolutionary Guard.
Delegations from Gulf countries, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which faced hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones during the war, are also expected to arrive and may participate in side meetings.
What's on the agenda?
Trump referred to a “10-point proposal from Iran,” which he described as a “basis for negotiations.” But the 10-point list presented by Iran includes demands that Americans strongly oppose.
Among them are recognition of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damages, an agreement on uranium enrichment, an end to the war against Iran and its allies, and the withdrawal of the US from all its bases in the Gulf region.
At the same time, CNN reported that Trump and his team have a proposal of their own, which includes 15 points.
What can the talks achieve?
Despite the uncertainty, sources familiar with the matter told CNN that U.S. officials have been rapidly preparing for the talks over the past 24 hours. Despite the disagreements, Trump told NBC that he is "very optimistic" that a peace deal will be reached and said that private conversations suggest that Iranian leaders want peace.
Critical questions remain about the ceasefire and the basis for negotiations. While Iran and Pakistan have stated that the ceasefire also includes Lebanon, the United States and Israel insist that Lebanon is a separate issue.
Even after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he aimed for peace talks with Lebanon, he made it clear that they would take place while the fighting continued. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said any peace negotiations would be “meaningless” if the bombing of Lebanon continued.
What is Trump saying?
In contrast to his upbeat comments to NBC, Trump took a much harsher tone in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, returning to threats against Iran.
"The oil will start flowing again very soon. You will see the oil start flowing, with or without Iran's help. To me it makes no difference," he wrote.
A few hours later he posted another: "Iran is doing a very poor job, some would say shameful, allowing oil to move through the Strait of Hormuz. This is not the deal we have!"
He also attacked The Wall Street Journal, which reported that he had declared victory over Iran too early. “In fact, it is a victory and there is nothing 'premature' about it!” he wrote.
Later, in an interview with the New York Post, Trump issued another warning, saying that US ships in the Middle East were being rearmed in case negotiations failed.
In another tweet, Trump said Iran is relying on what he called “short-term blackmail of the world through the use of international waterways,” an apparent reference to the Strait of Hormuz. He added: “The Iranians don’t seem to understand that they have no cards in their hand… The only reason they are still alive today is to negotiate!”
What is happening in Islamabad?
A complete lockdown has been imposed on the streets of Islamabad as preparations for negotiations intensify.
Pakistan is widely seen as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the war, both for the fact that, unlike almost all of Iran's neighbors, it was not hit by missiles and for its decision to host the talks in its capital. Pakistani officials insist the crucial talks will go ahead as planned over the weekend.
The Guardian reported that ahead of the first round, army troops and the paramilitary Rangers force were deployed and security was increased across the capital. Thursday and Friday were declared official holidays, and the streets were remarkably empty.
Pakistani officials have remained largely silent on the organization of the talks due to security and diplomatic sensitivities, but said preparations are proceeding at full speed.
“Our priority is to ensure that the talks proceed smoothly,” one official said. “We do not want to be seen as an obstacle. Our role is to facilitate and mediate. We will leave it to Iran and the United States to make any developments public, if they choose to do so.”
However, on Friday evening, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the moment is "now or never" in terms of the possibility of reaching a permanent ceasefire.
Where will the talks take place?
Due to the high security risk, Pakistani officials confirmed that three to four possible locations are being considered for the critical meeting between Iran and the United States.
Top officials are expected to stay at the luxury Serena Hotel in Islamabad, which could also serve as the venue for the talks. The hotel has been emptied of guests and roads within a three-kilometer radius have been closed to traffic and placed under military control.
Other possible locations include the prime minister's office, the Islamabad Convention Center or a secure military facility, it writes. Ynet.
