Pakistan stepped in as mediator for high-stakes negotiations, however, Iran’s participation remained to be conditional as Israeli strikes continued to claim lives across Lebanon.
Islamabad was on high alert as indirect US-Iran negotiations were set to take place last weekend even as Israeli strikes in Lebanon continued to claim hundreds of lives and threaten to derail the diplomatic process before it begins. With deep divisions persisting on all sides, the talks may be the region’s last credible opening toward peace.
Pakistan primarily decided to host indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad last weekend, in a bid to stabilise a fragile ceasefire and prevent further regional escalation. Islamabad bolstered its security measures across the capital, with roads sealed and troop deployment significantly increased as the weekend talks were approaching.
The format of the engagement, primarily decided to be conducted in an indirect manner, where both delegations were expected to remain in separate rooms at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad with Pakistani officials serving as intermediaries to communicate proposals between Washington and Tehran. Further, The White House confirmed its delegation to be led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by senior envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner.
However, the talks remained to be in an unpredictable loop with Iran denying about the formal delegation departing Tehran and further stating that its participation remained to be conditional on a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon.
On Wednesday alone, Israeli strikes across Lebanon killed over 300 people and wounded at least 1,150, with the World Health Organization calling on Israel to withdraw an evacuation order that affects two major hospitals in the Beirut area.
Divisions remain wide. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that if Washington continues allowing military action to undermine diplomacy, that would be its own choice, one Tehran considers counterproductive but is still prepared for. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited that instructions have already been issued to begin direct talks with Lebanon might begin, even as the media reports proposed that Iran’s defence minister stated that the war would not be halted.
Source: Al Jazeera
