US vice-president JD Vance has warned Iran not to “play” the United States as he heads to Pakistan for negotiations due to take place in Islamabad on Saturday. The talks are being presented as a possible turning point in a conflict that has already shaken the wider Middle East.
Pakistan’s capital has been placed under a strict lockdown ahead of the meeting, with streets heavily restricted as the city prepares to host what officials describe as historic discussions between Iran and the US. Pakistani authorities say the negotiations will go ahead over the weekend as planned, despite growing uncertainty around the wider ceasefire effort.
The stakes are high. The ceasefire between the US and Iran has appeared increasingly fragile, with disputes over the terms of the talks and continued violence elsewhere in the region casting doubt on whether the diplomatic effort can hold.
At the same time, Israel has continued its bombardment of Lebanon. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is no ceasefire in Lebanon, after Israel launched fresh strikes. The renewed attacks have added to fears that the conflict could broaden further even as diplomatic channels remain open.
Officials in Pakistan are hoping the Islamabad talks can still deliver progress. The negotiations are expected to focus on ending hostilities and finding a path away from a war that has caused deep disruption across the Middle East. But with fighting continuing and political tensions still high, the outcome remains uncertain.
The timing of the meeting is significant. It comes as pressure builds on all sides to prevent the crisis from escalating further, yet the conditions around the talks suggest how difficult that task may be. The combination of battlefield developments, disputed ceasefire terms and regional mistrust has left the process vulnerable before it has even begun.
Pakistan is now at the centre of a moment that could shape the next phase of the conflict. Security has been tightened across Islamabad, underscoring both the diplomatic importance of the talks and the risks surrounding them. Whether the discussions can produce a breakthrough remains unclear, but the coming weekend is set to be closely watched across the region and beyond.
