US president Donald Trump has warned that fresh strikes on Iran could follow if weekend talks in Islamabad fail to produce a deal, saying warships are being reloaded with weaponry. The warning came as the region remained tense and the fragile ceasefire effort between the US and Iran faced growing uncertainty.
The talks, due to take place on Saturday in Pakistan’s capital, are being presented as a potentially decisive moment in efforts to end a conflict that has shaken the Middle East. Pakistani officials have said the negotiations will go ahead as planned, even as questions mount over whether the discussions can deliver an agreement.
Islamabad has been placed under strict lockdown as it prepares to host the meetings. The city is set to become the centre of intense diplomacy, with both sides facing pressure to find common ground after days of escalating rhetoric and continued violence elsewhere in the region.
Trump’s comments underscored how quickly the situation could worsen if the talks break down. His remarks suggested that military action remains a live option, with the US president saying that American warships are being rearmed in case the negotiations do not lead to a settlement.
At the same time, US vice-president JD Vance warned Iran not to try to “play” the United States in the peace process. His intervention added to the sense that the talks are entering a critical phase, with little room for manoeuvre and high stakes for all involved.
Meanwhile, fighting has not stopped elsewhere. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said there is no ceasefire in Lebanon, even as Israel launched fresh strikes. The renewed attacks have further complicated the diplomatic landscape, reinforcing concerns that the wider conflict is still active despite attempts to contain it.
In another development, Lebanon and Israel have agreed to meet in the United States, a sign that diplomatic channels remain open even as military activity continues. The agreement to meet offers a separate but related avenue for engagement in a crisis that has drawn in multiple actors and raised fears of broader escalation.
The overall picture remains highly unstable. On one side, officials are working toward talks that could ease tensions and possibly open the way to a deal. On the other, military preparations and fresh strikes point to the possibility that the situation could deteriorate quickly if diplomacy does not succeed.
For now, all eyes are on Islamabad, where the weekend negotiations are expected to test whether a breakthrough is possible. The outcome could shape the next phase of the conflict and determine whether the region moves toward de-escalation or deeper confrontation.
As the talks approach, the combination of military threats, ongoing attacks and urgent diplomacy has left the Middle East in a state of uncertainty, with leaders warning that the coming hours may prove decisive.
