Pakistan pushes for Iranian return to US talks before truce expires

US Vice President JD Vance’s upcoming visit to Islamabad, Pakistan, has raised hopes among Pakistani officials that Iran may participate in talks aimed at ending the ongoing war between the two countries. However, recent escalatory actions by the US have cast doubt on these efforts.

Over the past 48 hours, at least nine US aircraft have landed in Pakistan, bringing personnel and equipment to support the Vance-led negotiating team. The team is expected to include US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Iran has publicly stated that it has no plans to return to negotiations with the US. Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam recently posted on social media, citing a principle from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, stating that Iran will not negotiate under threat or force. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, has also accused Trump of seeking to justify renewed warmongering.

The US naval forces have been involved in several recent incidents with Iranian vessels, including the seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, Touska, in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday. The incident led to a demand for the immediate release of the crew and their families. On Tuesday, the US announced that it had also boarded another ship, M/T Tifani, which was already under US sanctions.

Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, has warned that Tehran must maintain 100% readiness in case of further US attacks. The ceasefire between Iran and the US is set to expire on Wednesday evening, with no clear indication of whether Iran will participate in talks.

Analysts have noted that the release of the Touska crew’s families could potentially offer a narrow opening for Iran to soften its position on returning to talks. However, details of the negotiations remain unclear.

Source: Al Jazeera