New US-Iran Ceasefire Talks in Pakistan Threatened by Last-Minute Demands and Trump’s Threats

The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is on shaky ground before talks even begin. As US and Iranian delegations converge in Islamabad, new disputes over the terms of the ceasefire have surfaced, threatening to unravel the already tenuous peace effort.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf publicly declared that two critical conditions remain unmet: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s frozen assets. He insisted these must be fulfilled before negotiations can proceed. Hours later, Iranian state media confirmed their delegation’s arrival in Pakistan but emphasized talks would only start if Washington accepted Tehran’s “preconditions.” The Iranian military’s warning that it has its “fingers on the trigger” underscores the high stakes amid repeated “breaches of trust” by the US and Israel.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump escalated tensions with stark threats. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump boasted of arming the US with “the best weapons ever made” and warned of “complete decimation” if no deal is reached. His posts on Truth Social dismissed Iran’s leverage as a “short term extortion” using international waterways and framed negotiations as Iran’s last lifeline.

The ceasefire, brokered last Tuesday, was hailed by the Trump administration as a means to avoid a wider US escalation in the region. Yet, the administration has remained vague about the deal’s details, contradicting Iran’s 10-point proposal and denying that a ceasefire in Lebanon was agreed upon. This discrepancy fuels suspicion, as Israeli military attacks on Lebanon continue unabated despite Trump’s claims of urging restraint.

US Vice President JD Vance, heading the American delegation, expressed cautious optimism about the talks but warned against bad-faith negotiations. His appointment signals a shift away from Trump’s previous envoys, aiming to rebuild some trust with Tehran.

The backdrop is grim: a war sparked by Israel’s 2025 invasion and followed by US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites has left the region volatile. With frozen assets, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and Israel’s military actions all unresolved, the ceasefire talks face an uphill battle. As Trump’s administration juggles brinkmanship and diplomacy, the world watches whether these high-stakes talks will bring peace or plunge the region deeper into conflict.