The Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad on Friday for U.S.-Iran peace talks, even as Tehran demanded Washington unblock its foreign assets and secure a ceasefire in Lebanon before negotiations begin. The talks, mediated by Pakistan, come after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the six-week conflict that had included American and Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Despite the pause in military action, Iran continues its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting global energy supplies. Iran's parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated on X that prior agreements included the release of Iranian assets and a halt to hostilities in Lebanon—conditions the U.S. and Israel deny are part of the current ceasefire. The Lebanese presidency confirmed a phone call between its ambassador and Israel's envoy in Washington, with both sides agreeing to meet at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday under American mediation. Iran's delegation, led by Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi, consists of around 70 members, including technical experts and media staff, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. Speaking in Islamabad, Qalibaf said Iran approached the talks with goodwill but without trust in the U.S., insisting Tehran would only proceed if Washington delivered what it called a genuine agreement. U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, leading the American delegation, said he hoped for a positive outcome but warned Iran against attempting to manipulate the process. Trump, in a social media post, claimed Iran had "no cards" and suggested its survival depended solely on negotiation. Vali Nasr, a Middle East expert at Johns Hopkins University, noted the high-level U.S. delegation—including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—reflects the seriousness of the talks, with Tehran seeking direct influence over Trump's decision-making. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the nation, emphasized the critical nature of the negotiations, vowing consequences for any aggressors against Pakistan.
The most revealing element of the talks is not the ceasefire or the blockade, but Iran's insistence on having Vice-President JD Vance present—signaling a strategic bet that Trump's inner circle, not career diplomats, holds real power. By demanding Vance, Kushner, and Witkoff at the table, Tehran is acknowledging that U.S. foreign policy under Trump operates less through institutions and more through personal loyalty networks, a vulnerability it now seeks to exploit. This is not diplomacy in the traditional sense, but transactional bargaining with a president whose rhetoric often outpaces policy coherence.
Globally, this moment reflects a shift where regional powers like Iran treat American political instability as a negotiating tool. Trump's threat to destroy Iran's "civilization" and his sudden pivot to ceasefire illustrate a pattern of volatile decision-making that adversaries can anticipate and manipulate. The presence of Kushner and Witkoff—neither career diplomats—underscores the increasing privatization of U.S. foreign policy, where access to the president matters more than diplomatic protocol. Pakistan's role as host adds another layer, positioning a non-Western state as mediator in a crisis born of American unilateralism.
For African and developing nations, the disruption to energy supplies via the Strait of Hormuz has already driven up fuel costs, compounding inflation and economic strain. Nigeria, as an oil-dependent economy, faces dual risks: reduced global demand during supply shocks and higher import costs for refined products. With no direct diplomatic role in these talks, African countries are left vulnerable to decisions made in Islamabad, Washington, and Tehran.
The next critical development will be whether Iran lifts its blockade after any asset-unfreezing announcement, or if the Strait of Hormuz remains a bargaining chip beyond the two-week ceasefire window.
