Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the upcoming Iran-United States talks in Islamabad, set to begin on Saturday, as a life-or-death struggle aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East. He expressed optimism that the discussions were moving in the right direction. Sharif confirmed that US Vice President JD Vance was en route to Islamabad and that two Iranian delegations had departed for Pakistan.

Earlier, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran would not begin talks with the United States until a ceasefire was reached in Lebanon and its frozen assets were released. Sharif noted that both sides were shaping narratives for their domestic audiences, adding that Iran was clearly unwilling to endanger Hezbollah.

The talks are drawing global attention as they are seen as a critical step toward easing regional tensions and possibly preventing further escalation if negotiations fail.