Islamabad, April 11 (NationPress) Reports from Iranian media confirmed on Saturday evening, according to Pakistan time, that the discussions between Iran and the US have officially commenced in Islamabad. The semi-official Tasnim News Agency from Iran indicated that pivotal topics in these negotiations include the establishment of a ceasefire in Lebanon, the unblocking of Iranian assets by the US, and the necessity for in-depth expert and technical dialogues concerning these matters, along with conversations about the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the news agency, Iran is adamant that the ceasefire in Lebanon has not been fully realized, asserting that the United States bears responsibility for ensuring Israel adheres to this commitment. The Iranian delegation is addressing this concern earnestly through the mediation of Pakistan and within the negotiation space.

In a related development, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Aref cautioned on Saturday that any deal would be unattainable if the US prioritizes Israel's interests during the negotiations in Pakistan.

He stated, “If we encounter representatives with an 'Israel First' agenda, there won't be a deal; we will have to continue our defense efforts even more vigorously than before, leading to greater costs for the world,” he noted in a post on social media platform X, while also conveying that “a mutually beneficial agreement for both parties and the global community is possible” if the situation is otherwise.

These statements were made as an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and a US delegation headed by Vice President J D Vance arrived in Islamabad to negotiate an end to the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

On February 28, Israel and the United States initiated coordinated attacks on Tehran and various Iranian cities, resulting in the death of Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military officials and civilians. In retaliation, Iran unleashed extensive missile and drone assaults targeting both Israel and US interests in the region, while tightening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire lasting two weeks between Iran and the US took effect on Wednesday. However, Israel has declared that this ceasefire does not extend to the conflict in Lebanon, subsequently executing its largest single-day offensive against Lebanon on Wednesday, which resulted in over 300 fatalities and more than 1,100 injuries, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

On Friday, Qalibaf insisted on a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's frozen assets as prerequisites before negotiations with the US could commence.

Earlier that same day, Tasnim news agency indicated that Washington had consented to unfreeze Iranian assets, with the Iranian delegation in Pakistan aiming to confirm this issue. However, several media outlets, citing an anonymous senior US official, refuted this claim.