Iran Denies Islamabad Talks with U.S., Links Negotiations to Lebanon Ceasefire

Iran has firmly denied reports that a negotiating delegation has arrived in Islamabad for talks with the United States, dismissing such claims as “false” amid ongoing regional tensions.

According to the state-affiliated Fars News Agency, Tehran has no immediate plans to engage in negotiations with Washington in Pakistan. The agency quoted officials as stating that Iran would not participate in any peace talks “until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon.”

The denial follows a report by The Wall Street Journal, which claimed that an Iranian delegation had entered Islamabad to initiate discussions with U.S. officials. Rejecting the report, Fars reiterated that no such delegation had been dispatched.

Echoing this position, Tasnim News Agency reported that negotiations remain “suspended,” citing continued Israeli military actions in Lebanon and the absence of a confirmed ceasefire. “As long as the U.S. does not fulfill its commitments and the Zionist regime continues its attacks, negotiations are suspended,” the agency noted.

Despite these official denials, sources quoted by News18 indicated that an Iranian team may have reached Islamabad for backchannel discussions, suggesting a degree of ambiguity surrounding the situation.

Meanwhile, a fragile two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran has shown signs of strain. Donald Trump accused Tehran of failing to uphold commitments related to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, particularly in facilitating oil shipments. In a social media post, Trump remarked that Iran was doing a “very poor job” in allowing maritime traffic, warning that the arrangement was not being honored.

Shipping data underscores the disruption, with only a handful of vessels transiting the strait within the first 24 hours of the ceasefire—far below the typical daily average of around 140 vessels. The route is critical, handling nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

Tensions have further escalated with renewed military activity in Lebanon. Israel’s military confirmed strikes on multiple rocket launchers linked to Hezbollah, following missile fire targeting northern Israeli regions, including Haifa. While Israeli defenses reportedly intercepted incoming threats, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli military infrastructure.

A key point of contention remains the scope of the ceasefire. While the U.S. and Israel maintain that Lebanon is not included, Iran and Pakistan—acting as a mediator—have insisted that any comprehensive agreement must encompass Lebanon and allied groups in the region.

Iranian leadership has reinforced this stance. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf emphasized that regional allies, including Lebanon, are integral to any ceasefire framework. Separately, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei signaled that Iran remains prepared to respond decisively as the conflict evolves.

As diplomatic uncertainty persists, the interplay between military developments and stalled negotiations continues to shape the trajectory of the crisis in West Asia.