TEHRAN – Iran and the United States are set to hold negotiations on Saturday in Islamabad following a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. The truce came after 40 days of unlawful and unprovoked US–Israeli aggression against Iran that began on February 28.

Tehran has made clear that its participation in the talks is conditional. On Wednesday, Iranian officials warned that they may withdraw from the negotiations if Washington fails to fully implement key provisions of Iran’s 10-point ceasefire framework — the plan that formed the basis of the truce.

Lebanon at the heart of Iran’s plan

One of the central disputes concerns Lebanon. Iranian officials insist that Israeli military operations in Lebanon must stop as part of the ceasefire. According to the 10-point plan, the agreement brokered by Islamabad covered all fronts of the conflict, including Lebanon.

Importantly, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shehbaz Sharif also stated that the ceasefire included Lebanon, reinforcing Iran’s interpretation that hostilities in that country were meant to halt under the agreement. His remarks directly contradict US claims that Lebanon was not part of the arrangement.

US officials, including Vice-President J.D. Vance, have argued that the ceasefire was limited to direct US–Iran hostilities and did not explicitly restrict Israeli actions in Lebanon. They have characterized the disagreement as a matter of interpretation, but Tehran maintains that the terms were clearly communicated during Pakistan’s mediation efforts.

Iran sets clear preconditions

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is expected to head the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, stated that two mutually agreed measures remain unfulfilled: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi also reiterated that Iran’s 10-point proposal will serve as the foundation of the negotiations. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic supports diplomacy based on mutual respect and credible guarantees, not arrangements that would allow adversaries to regroup and resume aggression.

“Iran has always welcomed dialogue,” he said, “but not negotiations built on deception or false premises.”

Diplomacy alongside deterrence

Iran says its military actions are legitimate self-defense under the United Nations Charter. Tehran has also reaffirmed its policy of good neighborliness, while warning that any country allowing its territory or facilities to be used for attacks against Iran would be considered complicit in aggression.

For Tehran, the issue is not merely procedural but fundamentally about trust and credibility. Iranian officials argue that any ambiguity surrounding the ceasefire’s scope risks eroding the fragile diplomatic opening created by Pakistan’s mediation. From Iran’s perspective, a ceasefire that excludes Lebanon would amount to a selective pause rather than a genuine de-escalation, allowing continued instability in the region.

Iranian policymakers maintain that their 10-point framework was designed precisely to prevent such loopholes. They describe it as a comprehensive roadmap that addresses not only the cessation of hostilities but also broader guarantees intended to prevent a relapse into war. Tehran insists that a meaningful diplomatic process must be built on concrete actions — including sanctions relief and respect for Iran’s sovereign rights — rather than rhetorical commitments.

A decisive moment for Islamabad talks

Officials in Tehran also point to Iran’s demonstrated resilience during the 40-day conflict. They argue that despite sustained military pressure, the Islamic Republic preserved its defensive capabilities and national cohesion. In this context, Iran portrays its willingness to engage in talks as a sign of confidence and responsibility, not weakness.

At the same time, Iranian leaders emphasize that diplomacy and deterrence go hand in hand. While expressing readiness for constructive dialogue in Islamabad, Tehran has reiterated that it will respond decisively to any renewed aggression. This dual message reflects Iran’s long-standing strategic doctrine: openness to negotiation combined with firm defense of national interests.

The upcoming Islamabad talks therefore represent a critical diplomatic test. Tehran insists that sustainable peace requires full implementation of the ceasefire in all theaters, including Lebanon, alongside tangible confidence-building measures.

Whether Washington aligns with the terms articulated by Pakistan’s mediation efforts may determine whether the negotiations advance — or stall before they begin.