US-Israel Iran War Live Updates

As Pakistani leaders characterize the upcoming talks in Islamabad as a make-or-break moment, ordinary Iranians are exhibiting a profound lack of faith in the United States, according to Dr. Zohreh Kharazmi, a respected associate professor at the University of Tehran’s Faculty of World Studies.

Dr. Kharazmi, speaking with Al Jazeera, emphasized that Iranians are not holding out much hope for the negotiations due to a pervasive sense of distrust. They perceive the US and its allies as unreliable partners in any potential agreements.

Dr. Kharazmi drew attention to a recurring pattern in which past negotiations with the US were exploited as a smokescreen for aggressive actions, citing the Trump administration’s contradictory stance on Iran’s 10-point proposal as a prime example. The proposal was initially accepted, only to be subsequently disregarded.

At the same time, Dr. Kharazmi noted that Iranians believe they possess a significant advantage in the negotiations. They are well aware of the domestic and international pressures faced by the Trump administration, which they believe has left it vulnerable.

Regarding a potential Lebanon ceasefire as a precondition for talks, Dr. Kharazmi was unequivocal: the US holds the key to exerting influence or pressure on Israel. She warned that Israel has a history of sabotaging any opportunities for a ceasefire in the region.

Dr. Kharazmi described Iran’s economic demands – including sanctions relief, the unfreezing of assets, reparations, and tolls on the Strait of Hormuz – as logical and sophisticated. She argued that regaining control over the strait would unlock significant revenue streams and reconnect Iran to the global economy, which has been severely impacted by US economic sanctions and terrorism. The introduction of tolls in Hormuz would also grant the Global South a more substantial share in the global economy, according to Dr. Kharazmi.

Upon his arrival in Pakistan for high-level talks with US representatives, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf expressed his stance, stating that the US must acknowledge Iran’s legitimate rights if a mutually beneficial agreement is to be reached.
According to sources, Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran’s delegation has come to Islamabad with genuine intentions, despite lingering distrust towards the United States.
He pointed out that the US has consistently failed to uphold its obligations in past negotiations with Iran, as reported by the official IRNA news agency.

Hezbollah militants claimed responsibility for launching a coordinated assault against Israeli military personnel stationed at the Kiryat Shmona settlement in northern Israel, utilizing a combination of missile and drone strikes.
The group also asserted that military outposts in Ya’ara were struck by rockets.

A landmark diplomatic encounter is set to unfold in Islamabad today, as top US and Iranian officials engage in the most senior-level discussions since the pivotal Islamic Revolution of 1979. This crucial meeting will also represent the first official face-to-face negotiations between the two nations since a landmark agreement on Iran’s nuclear program was reached in 2015. The nuclear deal, however, was unilaterally terminated by President Trump in 2018 during his initial term in office. The same year, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, imposed a ban on direct talks, a restriction that has now been lifted following his passing in a US-Israeli military operation at the outset of the conflict six weeks ago.

In a recent escalation, Hezbollah militants claimed responsibility for launching a coordinated attack on Israeli military personnel stationed at the Kiryat Shmona settlement in northern Israel, utilizing a combination of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, a high-level Iranian delegation is scheduled to hold talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad this afternoon.
Upon their arrival at the airport last night, the Iranian team engaged in discussions with Pakistan’s army chief and foreign minister, as per Tasnim’s report.

In a candid address following his arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan, for high-stakes negotiations with US officials, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that the United States must acknowledge Iran’s sovereignty if a mutually beneficial agreement is to be reached.
Ghalibaf, who is spearheading Iran’s delegation in the ongoing peace talks, expressed Iran’s genuine commitment to the negotiations despite lingering distrust towards the United States, as reported by the official IRNA news agency.
According to Ghalibaf, past negotiations between the two nations have been marred by the US’s failure to uphold its obligations, a factor that he believes must be addressed for any future agreement to be successful.

Optimism is tempered with caution as expectations of a breakthrough in the US-Iran talks begin to take shape.
JD Vance’s involvement has injected a new dynamic into the negotiations, which have so far yielded no concrete results.
The previous round of talks in Muscat, Oman, ended without a resolution, but Vance’s imminent arrival is expected to lend greater significance to the discussions.
As the talks gain momentum, there is a growing sense that tangible progress may be achieved.
Vance’s presence is already being felt, with his security team and vehicles having arrived on the scene.
The talks have been made possible through the support of key international allies, including China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye, which have provided crucial backing for Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate a meeting between the two nations.

A pivotal moment in the complex relationship between Tehran and Washington is unfolding, with high-stakes diplomatic talks scheduled to take place in Pakistan. The fragile truce currently holding between the two nations has raised expectations for a long-term ceasefire and resolution of long-standing disputes. Iran had previously insisted that any negotiations with the US would be contingent upon a cessation of hostilities, and the current situation appears to be a delicate balance of power. Despite the tentative ceasefire, numerous contentious issues remain unresolved, including the Lebanese ceasefire, Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, security guarantees, and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Ongoing mistrust and rhetoric about potential future conflict continue to cast a shadow over the negotiations.

According to well-placed sources in Pakistan, US Vice President JD Vance has made a significant arrival in Islamabad, where he is set to engage in high-stakes discussions with Iranian officials.