US President Donald Trump has warned that fresh strikes on Iran remain possible if weekend talks in Islamabad fail to deliver a deal, as the Middle East crisis continues to deepen.
Trump said warships were being reloaded with weaponry, signaling that military pressure could resume if Saturday’s negotiations do not produce an agreement. The warning comes as the US and Iran prepare for what has been described as make-or-break talks in Pakistan’s capital.
In Washington, JD Vance cautioned Iran against trying to “play” the US in the peace discussions, underlining the fragile state of the diplomacy. The talks have raised hopes of an end to a conflict that has already devastated large parts of the region, but the outlook remains uncertain.
At the same time, violence in Lebanon has continued to complicate the situation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there is no ceasefire in Lebanon, after Israel launched fresh strikes. That development has added to fears that the wider crisis could escalate further even as diplomats push for progress.
Islamabad under lockdown
The streets of Islamabad were placed under strict lockdown as the Pakistani capital prepared to host the negotiations between Iran and the US. Pakistani officials say the talks will go ahead over the weekend as planned, despite the tension surrounding them.
The meeting is being watched closely because of the stakes involved. The US-Iran ceasefire effort has appeared increasingly precarious, with continued bombardment in Lebanon and disagreement over the terms of the talks adding pressure to an already volatile situation.
Officials have presented the weekend meeting as a critical opportunity to slow the slide toward broader conflict. But with military action still on the table and political trust fragile, the talks face major obstacles before any agreement can be reached.
For now, the diplomatic focus remains on Islamabad, where both sides are expected to test whether a deal can be found. If the talks fail, the warning from Trump suggests the confrontation with Iran could quickly intensify again.
Elsewhere, the continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon show how unstable the regional picture has become. Even as negotiators prepare to meet, the violence on the ground has kept pressure on efforts to secure any lasting ceasefire.
The coming weekend is therefore being treated as a decisive moment. The outcome of the Islamabad talks may determine whether the crisis moves toward diplomacy or back toward further military escalation.
