WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: Tensions are soaring in the Middle East as the United States and Iran prepare for high-stakes peace negotiations in Islamabad this Saturday. On Friday, President Donald Trump warned that US warships are being reloaded with “the best ammunition” to resume airstrikes on Iran if the diplomatic efforts in Pakistan fail to yield a resolution.
On the other hand, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s parliament, set two major preconditions that must be met before Tehran enters the formal negotiation phase. Speaking on Friday, Ghalibaf demanded an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s frozen international assets. He emphasized that these requirements are non-negotiable for the talks to commence.
Internal friction has also surfaced within Tehran, as senior Iranian officials are reportedly locked in a dispute over the composition and decision-making authority of the delegation heading to Islamabad. Amid this internal deadlock, US Vice President JD Vance has already departed for Pakistan to lead the American delegation. Vance stated before his departure that while Washington is hopeful for a “positive” outcome, they will not be “receptive” if Iran negotiates in bad faith.
Adding to the maritime tensions, senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi proposed a parliamentary bill on Friday that seeks to permanently ban all oil tankers linked to the United States and Israel from navigating the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The proposal has raised alarms about long-term global energy security, as the US continues to demand that Iran stop charging illegal transit fees to commercial vessels in the waterway.
With input from Iran International.
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