The fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran faced its first diplomatic test on Thursday as both delegations converged on Islamabad for Pakistan-brokered talks, with Iran laying down preconditions that threaten to derail negotiations before they begin.
Iran’s Two Preconditions
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who leads Iran’s negotiating team alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, posted on social media that two measures agreed upon by both parties had yet to be implemented.
The demands place the United States in a difficult position. Israel’s military operations in Lebanon have continued unabated since Wednesday’s devastating strikes that killed over 300 people in Beirut, and Washington has disputed whether a Lebanese ceasefire was part of the original agreement.
Vance Leads US Delegation
Vice President JD Vance departed for Pakistan leading a high-level American delegation that includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
Vance struck an optimistic tone before departure, saying he expected “positive results” and had received “pretty clear guidelines” from Trump.
Hormuz Strait Remains Contested
Despite the ceasefire terms calling for the “complete, immediate and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has not fully reopened the critical waterway. Maritime traffic remains well below normal levels, with shipping companies reporting ongoing uncertainty about safe passage.
Trump responded by posting that Iran has “no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways,” reiterating the threat of military action if Iran fails to comply.
Lebanon Threatens to Unravel the Deal
The most immediate threat to the Islamabad talks comes from Israel’s continued military operations in Lebanon. Israeli strikes showed no sign of slowing on Friday, with attacks reported across southern Lebanon throughout the day.
Washington and Israel have disagreed over whether the ceasefire agreement covers Lebanon. Iran insists it does. The ambiguity was deliberate during the initial April 7 agreement, but it now risks becoming the fault line that collapses the diplomatic process.
What Happens Next
Formal talks are expected to begin on Saturday, April 11, with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosting both delegations. Iran’s 10-point peace plan forms the basis of discussions, though the US has signalled it will not accept all demands.
The two-week ceasefire expires on April 21. If no framework agreement is reached by then, military operations could resume.
Sources: Al Jazeera, CNN, NPR, NBC News, CNBC, CBS News
