Amid a temporary ceasefire that expires on Wednesday, negotiations between the United States and Iran are shrouded in deep uncertainty. Speaker of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran "will not accept talks under the pressure of threats" and is ready to "reveal new cards on the battlefield," reflecting a hardening of the country's stance. The first round of talks in Islamabad more than a week ago produced no results, heightening fears of a new military confrontation.
For his part, US President Donald Trump ruled out extending the truce if no deal is reached, and threatened strikes on Iran's energy sector and civilian infrastructure. Despite this, Washington said it intends to send a negotiating delegation to Islamabad headed by Vice President J. D. Vance. A White House representative, asserting that the sides are "closer than ever to a good deal," also emphasized that Trump has other options and will not hesitate to use them.
Iran officially denied reports that its delegation had arrived in the Pakistani capital. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the "provocative and threatening rhetoric of the US" creates a serious obstacle to the diplomatic process, and Tehran will carefully assess the situation before determining its next step. Iran's ambassador to Pakistan noted that a country with a "great civilization" will not negotiate at gunpoint, calling this a fundamental Islamic and religious principle.
Pakistan, the host country, is taking intensive diplomatic and security measures in anticipation of a possible arrival of delegations. Pakistan's foreign minister urged his Iranian counterpart to resume dialogue to strengthen regional peace. At the same time, commenting on the nuclear component of a possible deal, Trump said that Iranian nuclear materials would ultimately be handed over to the US, and described past strikes on Iranian facilities as "Operation 'Midnight Hammer'," referring to a series of air strikes.
Thus, the situation remains extremely tense on the eve of the truce's expiration. Contradictory signals from Washington combine with Tehran's tough, principled position of refusing to negotiate under pressure. The stakes are extremely high: the failure of diplomacy threatens the immediate resumption of military action and a large-scale escalation of the conflict in the region.
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- What is Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s political role in the Iranian power system beyond the position of parliament speaker? - In addition to being the speaker of the parliament (Majles), Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is an influential pragmatic politician within Iran's conservative camp. He is a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during the Iran–Iraq War, a former mayor of Tehran (2005–2017) and a multiple-time presidential candidate. Ghalibaf is considered one of the key "managers" of the system, closely connected to the security forces and business circles, and is often viewed as a potential contender for higher office. His role extends beyond legislative power, including influence over domestic and economic policy.
- Why was Islamabad chosen as the venue for US-Iran talks, given Pakistan’s complicated relations with both countries? - Islamabad could have been chosen as neutral ground for indirect or secret talks, since Pakistan maintains diplomatic relations with both Iran and the US despite periodic tensions. Pakistan has historically acted as a mediator in regional conflicts, has geographical proximity to Iran, and both sides may consider it a relatively safe location for contacts in the absence of direct diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington.
- What is "Operation 'Midnight Hammer'," to which Trump referred, and what was its context in US-Iran relations? - Operation "Midnight Hammer" (Midnight Hammer) was a cyber operation carried out by the United States against Iran, likely in response to aggressive Iranian actions such as attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz or the downing of a US drone in 2019. The context is an escalation of tensions under the Trump administration after the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2018. The operation was part of a broader "cyber war," in which the US used cyber tools to disrupt Iranian infrastructure (for example, missile control systems or propaganda networks), seeking to apply pressure without direct military conflict.
Full version: إيران ترفض المفاوضات تحت التهديد وترمب يستبعد تمديد الهدنة