According to Tasnim’s correspondent dispatched to Islamabad, due to intensive consultations in Islamabad, progress in talks, and the limitation of attacks by the Zionist regime from Beirut to southern Lebanon—which is considered a step forward in the implementation of the ceasefire—as well as the American side’s acceptance of releasing Iran’s assets and the need for more precise expert and technical discussions in this regard, it was decided that negotiations between Iran and the United States would commence in Islamabad to finalize these issues.
Iran maintains that the ceasefire in Lebanon has not yet been fully realized, and that the United States is obligated to compel the Israeli regime to fulfill this commitment. The Iranian delegation is pursuing this matter seriously through the Pakistani mediator and also within the negotiation room.
The Iranian delegation, expressing skepticism towards the other party and considering the previous experience of US breaches of promises in earlier negotiations, has agreed to participate in this round of talks under Pakistan’s mediation.
Following the assassination of late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several military commanders on February 28, the US and Israel launched an extensive military offensive against Iran. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces carried out attacks on American and Israeli positions in the region and the occupied territories, showcasing their capability to retaliate effectively. Contrary to the aggressors' expectations of a quick victory, Iran's powerful counterattacks for 40 days inflicted significant damage on US and Israeli military assets.
In an effort to de-escalate the situation, Pakistani mediation led to a two-week ceasefire agreement on April 8 that allows for negotiations in Islamabad. Iran has laid out a ten-point plan for the talks, which includes demands for the withdrawal of US forces, the lifting of sanctions, and control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian government maintains a stance of distrust towards the US, asserting that the negotiations are not meant to resolve the conflict but rather to shift the battleground into the diplomatic arena.