An Iranian delegation currently in Pakistan for talks with the United States on ending the ongoing war has been named 'Minab 168'. The name commemorates a deadly attack on a primary school in Minab, where more than 168 students and teachers were killed. Iran says the delegation’s name symbolizes the suffering of civilians and the need to end the conflict.

According to the report, Iran has faced continuous attacks for 40 days targeting civilians and infrastructure. The country accuses the United States and Israel of striking over 800 schools, more than 30 universities, health centers, and other facilities. By naming the delegation 'Minab 168', Iran aims to send a message to the United States and the international community about the human cost of the war.

The report adds that the name also represents a diplomatic opportunity, reflecting Iran’s attempt to resolve the crisis through dialogue.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref stated that the outcome of the upcoming discussions in Islamabad will depend entirely on the priorities of the United States. He urged Washington to focus on an 'America First' policy rather than an 'Israel First' approach, according to Al Jazeera.

Aref posted on X that if US representatives concentrate on their 'America First' interests, a mutually beneficial agreement could be achieved. He warned against any implementation of an 'Israel First' agenda, saying such a move would lead to a situation without an agreement and compel Iran to continue its defense efforts more vigorously than before.

Aref further cautioned that such a scenario would impose a greater cost on the world. The Islamabad talks reportedly involve complex issues, including Iran’s assets and a Lebanon ceasefire, with the United Nations Secretary-General having made appeals to both the US and Iran before the discussions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran is participating in ongoing discussions with the United States under conditions of deep distrust. He clarified Tehran’s stance during a telephone conversation with German Foreign Minister Johann Wedfull, according to Iran’s Mehr News Agency. Araghchi said Washington’s repeated diplomatic betrayals and broken promises have left no room for trust.

He emphasized that Iran remains highly skeptical because of the United States’ history of violating diplomatic norms, but vowed to continue defending the rights and interests of the Iranian people. The upcoming peace talks are scheduled to take place in Islamabad, with mediation from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey.

Analysts cited in the report suggested that Araghchi’s remarks may be intended to increase pressure on the United States ahead of the negotiations, which will be led on the U.S. side by Vice President J.D. Vance. Observers are watching to see how Iran’s message of distrust will affect the peace process.

A 71-member Iranian delegation has arrived in Islamabad to participate in discussions with the United States. The delegation includes negotiators, experts, media representatives, and security personnel. It is led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, National Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, and Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei among the members. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defense Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the delegation at Islamabad airport.

Before departing for Pakistan, U.S. delegation head and Vice President JD Vance expressed a positive outlook, saying the United States was ready to extend a helping hand if Iran approached the talks with goodwill. The discussions are expected to address complex issues, including Iran’s frozen assets and the Lebanon ceasefire.

Tehran has signaled a firm stance ahead of the talks, emphasizing that while an agreement with the United States may be possible, no such deal is expected with Israel.

China is reportedly preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, according to a CNN report citing three officials familiar with recent U.S. intelligence assessments. The intelligence review suggested that Iran may be using the current ceasefire period to reestablish certain weapons systems with the help of key foreign partners.

Two sources told CNN that Beijing might attempt to conceal the true origin of the weapons shipment by routing it through a third country. The systems reportedly include shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, known as MANPADS, which previously posed a significant threat to low-flying U.S. military aircraft during a five-week conflict and could do so again if the ceasefire collapses.

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington denied the allegations, stating that China has never supplied weapons to any party in the conflict. The spokesperson added that China fulfills its international obligations responsibly and urged the U.S. to stop making unfounded accusations and spreading sensational claims, calling for all sides to help reduce tensions.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Pakistan with an Iranian delegation to participate in discussions with the United States. A photograph taken inside his aircraft drew attention, showing empty seats adorned with pictures and belongings of children killed in the Minab school attack on February 28, the first day of the war. The attack, reportedly carried out by a US-Israeli coalition, claimed many lives, including schoolchildren.

Ghalibaf shared the image on the X platform, captioning it as a tribute to the victims of the Minab primary school, referring to them as his companions on the flight. Reports indicate that at least 165 people were killed and hundreds injured in the incident, which has since become central to Iran’s diplomatic messaging.

The discussions in Islamabad are beginning amid tensions over ceasefire negotiations, military strain, and fragile diplomatic conditions. Ghalibaf’s symbolic gesture was seen as a strong message before the talks commenced.

Iran and the United States are set to meet in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss a possible ceasefire, but renewed tensions between the two sides have cast doubt on the talks. The US delegation is en route, while the Iranian team has already arrived. The meeting follows a ceasefire agreement announced Tuesday that temporarily halted US and Israeli military actions against Iran, yet disagreements over Iran’s ten-point proposal have since emerged.

Both sides have offered differing interpretations of the ceasefire terms, particularly regarding whether it applies to Israel’s operations in Lebanon. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the talks could collapse before they begin, citing two unmet preconditions: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s frozen assets. Iranian state media later confirmed that negotiations would start only if Washington accepted these terms.

Former US President Donald Trump reiterated threats against Iran, saying his administration was prepared to use advanced weaponry if no deal is reached. Analysts noted deep divisions remain over Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, frozen assets, nuclear program, and Israel’s actions in Lebanon.

The U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran that began on February 28 has raised concerns about the stability of the petrodollar system, which has underpinned global oil trade since a 1974 U.S.-Gulf agreement. Analysts warn that Iran’s decision to impose yuan-based tariffs on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could weaken the dollar’s role as the world’s primary energy currency. Deutsche Bank strategists noted that the conflict is testing the long-standing “oil-for-security” arrangement that has supported U.S. financial power for five decades.

Iran now controls access to the Hormuz Strait, through which 20 percent of global oil and gas normally pass. Tehran has restricted U.S. and Israeli-linked vessels while allowing limited passage to tankers paying in Chinese yuan. CNBC reported that Iran exported about 11.7 million barrels of crude to China since the conflict began. Meanwhile, China has increased its crude reserves to 1.2 billion barrels, enough for three to four months of demand.

Experts suggest the war could accelerate a shift toward a “petro-yuan” system, especially as global reserves diversify away from the dollar. Deutsche Bank’s Mallika Sachdeva described the conflict as marking the beginning of this transition.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that while Iran maintains goodwill toward the United States, it does not trust Washington. Speaking to Iranian state media, he said the Iranian delegation is confident but skeptical of its American counterparts. Ghalibaf added that if the United States is ready for a genuine agreement, Iran could also be prepared to engage.

He emphasized that Iran’s past experiences in negotiations with the United States have consistently ended in failure and breaches of commitments. His remarks come as discussions between the two countries face renewed attention, with reports highlighting tensions over Iran’s assets and the Lebanon ceasefire issue.

The comments signal Tehran’s cautious stance before any potential talks, underscoring a demand for credible assurances from Washington before progress can be made.

An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad to hold discussions with US officials on a possible ceasefire. The team includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Supreme National Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolkadr, Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati. Upon arrival, the delegation was received by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Tehran University professor Zohreh Kharazmi told Al Jazeera that Iran entered the Islamabad talks with confidence, viewing the meeting itself as a sign of a shift in the US position. She noted that while former US President Trump had demanded unconditional surrender as recently as March 6, Washington is now at the negotiation table. Kharazmi emphasized that Iran remains firm on its conditions and expects some of them to be accepted in later rounds.

Kharazmi also highlighted that control over the Strait of Hormuz remains central to Iran’s bargaining position, describing it as a means to recover war costs.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is traveling to Islamabad to join talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled to begin Saturday, aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire in the Middle East. Before his departure, President Donald Trump told reporters that Iran’s nuclear program would be the main focus of the discussions and that no backup plan was necessary. He added that a good deal with Iran would mean the absence of nuclear weapons and claimed that regime change had already occurred in Iran.

Trump also said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen soon, though he noted the United States did not need it. He rejected reports that Iran might impose tolls on ships passing through the strait, saying Washington would not allow that. Meanwhile, an Iranian delegation including senior officials such as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already arrived in Islamabad for the talks.

The discussions are expected to address Iran’s assets and the Lebanon ceasefire, though their duration remains uncertain, according to Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iranian leaders ahead of a scheduled meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump claimed that Iran holds no real power and that its leaders are being kept alive solely for negotiation purposes. He also asserted that Iran’s only leverage lies in temporarily blocking the Strait of Hormuz and accused Iranian leaders of being better at propaganda than warfare.

The Islamabad meeting aims to determine steps toward a permanent end to ongoing conflict, with both delegations expected to arrive by Friday night. Despite an Israeli strike on Lebanon that violated a ceasefire, Pakistan confirmed the talks would proceed as planned. However, continued hostilities and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz have raised doubts about the meeting’s potential success.

Observers expressed concern that escalating tensions and mutual distrust could undermine progress toward a lasting ceasefire agreement.

Expectations for the upcoming ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan are low, with even the possibility that the meeting may not occur. The discussions are set to proceed under Tehran’s 10-point proposal rather than US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan, signaling that Iran currently holds the upper hand. The ceasefire allows Iran to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz and continue collecting transit fees, a concession that Washington appears to have accepted.

Iran’s government has portrayed the ceasefire as a victory, though internal voices warn it may have weakened deterrence by not securing a full end to hostilities. Tehran’s demands include recognition of its control over the strait, acceptance of uranium enrichment, lifting of all sanctions, withdrawal of US forces, and a ceasefire extending to Israel’s operations in Lebanon and Gaza. These terms are seen as difficult for Washington to accept in full.

Even if the talks fail, analysts suggest a fragile equilibrium could persist, with both sides avoiding a return to full-scale war. The United States may stay out of direct conflict while Iran maintains leverage over regional trade routes, creating a tense but stable status quo.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that the United States must honor its commitment to a ceasefire in Lebanon. He said the two-week truce between Iran and the US included assurances that Lebanon would be covered under the agreement. Araghchi made the remarks during a phone conversation with Iran’s envoy to Lebanon on Friday.

Araghchi condemned Israeli attacks in Lebanon, emphasizing that such actions must stop under the terms of the ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that Iran would not begin any talks with the United States until the ceasefire in Lebanon is implemented and Iran’s frozen assets are released.

The statements reflect Tehran’s firm stance on linking regional stability and diplomatic engagement with Washington to the enforcement of the Lebanon ceasefire and the resolution of financial restrictions.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that two major conditions remain unfulfilled, preventing the start of talks with the United States. In a post on social media platform X, he said both sides had agreed on two preconditions: implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon and releasing Iran’s frozen assets. Ghalibaf emphasized that these must be met before any negotiations can begin.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance has departed for Pakistan and expressed optimism about the upcoming discussions. Although not officially confirmed, reports suggest that Ghalibaf may join Iran’s negotiating team. Iranian state media claimed that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, but no official confirmation has been received from Israel.

The situation underscores the fragile diplomatic environment surrounding the anticipated Iran–US meeting, with both sides signaling conditions and expectations ahead of formal engagement.