An Iranian delegation has arrived in Pakistan for talks with the United States, while Vance is on his way to join the discussions

Iranian officials arrived in Pakistan on Friday for peace talks with the United States, as Tehran insisted that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unfreezing of its assets were prerequisites for negotiations to proceed.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump vowed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open “with or without” Iran’s cooperation, stressing that his primary goal at the Islamabad talks is to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

Trump has sent Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan to engage with Iranian representatives, aiming to secure a broader Middle East peace deal following a two-week ceasefire agreed earlier in the week. Vance is joined by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.

Ahead of the talks, Vance cautioned Tehran against attempting to mislead Washington, saying the US is open to genuine negotiations but would respond firmly to any lack of sincerity.

Iran’s delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, also struck a cautious tone. He said Iran approaches the talks with goodwill but remains distrustful, citing past negotiations with the US that ended in “failure and broken promises.”

Tehran has reiterated that discussions will only begin if its conditions — a Lebanon ceasefire and access to frozen assets — are met.

Separately, Israel is set to hold talks with Lebanon’s government in Washington next week. However, Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter said Israel will not negotiate a ceasefire with Hezbollah, blaming the group for ongoing hostilities.

The conflict escalated after Israel launched major strikes and a ground offensive in Lebanon following attacks linked to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group. Despite a US-Iran ceasefire, Israel maintains that the truce does not extend to Lebanon. Lebanese officials report over 1,950 deaths during the recent fighting, including more than 350 killed in a single day of Israeli strikes.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the Islamabad talks as entering a critical “make or break” phase, emphasizing that securing a lasting ceasefire and resolving complex issues through dialogue will be challenging.

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments — is expected to be a central issue in the negotiations. Trump expressed confidence that the waterway would reopen soon, warning that the US could act unilaterally if necessary.

According to officials, the talks will address sensitive topics including Iran’s nuclear programme and ensuring uninterrupted trade through the strait.

In Islamabad, security has been tightened around the likely venue, the Serena Hotel, with roads sealed off and signage highlighting the high-stakes talks. Meanwhile, in Tehran, public skepticism remains, with some residents doubting the prospects of a successful outcome.