Iranian President Visits Pakistan Amid Ongoing US-Iran Negotiations and Regional Tensions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian landed in Islamabad on Tuesday for meetings with Pakistani officials overseeing talks aimed at ending the conflict with the United States. His visit follows high-level negotiations in Switzerland between the two sides, where technical teams are refining details of a potential settlement.

Pakistan’s president, prime minister and senior officials received Pezeshkian under tight security, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accompanied the delegation. The leaders are scheduled to hold a joint news conference after their discussions.

In Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said no visits by the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iranian nuclear sites damaged in a U.S. strike have been scheduled, despite U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s claim that the Swiss talks secured such access. The IAEA has not commented on a possible role.

U.S. officials indicated that negotiations have addressed mechanisms to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil traffic, though questions remain about control of the waterway. At the same time, Israeli forces opened fire in southern Lebanon, killing two civilians and prompting fears that renewed fighting could jeopardize the diplomatic process. Iran has indicated that a comprehensive deal must include a full truce in Lebanon.

Technical talks are reportedly organized into several working groups covering sanctions relief, nuclear issues, reconstruction and monitoring, as well as a contact mechanism for maritime traffic and the Lebanon situation, according to Iran’s state news agency.

Regarding unfrozen Iranian assets, Vice President Vance suggested they could be used to purchase American-grown corn, wheat and soy, with oversight by the United States and Qatar. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Tehran will decide imports based on price and quality, and Iran’s ambassador in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, asserted that Iran alone determines how to use the assets.

Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar said a “de-confliction cell” would involve the Lebanese government to ensure adherence to a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israeli forces retain full freedom of action in southern Lebanon. No immediate comment was received from Israel on the latest incidents.

The developments occur as the United States and Iran continue to work toward a permanent arrangement to end hostilities, with both sides emphasizing the need for full commitment to agreed obligations and precise implementation.