Pakistan remained on high alert Friday as it prepared to host high-stakes negotiations between Iranian and US delegations, even as Tehran’s participation was cast into doubt by a surge in Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

The diplomatic push in Islamabad comes as a separate set of talks between Israel and Lebanon was announced for next week in Washington.

A US State Department official confirmed, "We can confirm that the Department will host a meeting next week to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations with Israel and Lebanon," amidst global fears that the escalating violence in Beirut could shatter the fragile two-week US-Iran ceasefire.

Preparations in the Pakistani capital have turned the city into a virtual "ghost town," with a two-day public holiday declared and major roads closed to secure the luxury hotel intended for the delegates.

The negotiations are expected to cover critical issues, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment and the security of the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iran has signaled that its presence depends on a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated, "The holding of talks to end the war is dependent on the US adhering to its ceasefire commitments on all fronts, especially in Lebanon."

He added that the composition of the delegation would only be announced once "the travel plan is finalized."

Despite the diplomatic tension, Iran's Revolutionary Guards indicated a current adherence to the truce, noting through state media: "We would like to inform you that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not launched anything at any country during the ceasefire hours until now."

The uneasy truce was rattled Wednesday by Israel’s heaviest strikes on Lebanon since March, killing hundreds. While Israel maintains that Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire, Pakistan and Iran insist it is an "inseparable part" of the agreement.

Iranian officials have reportedly described the upcoming Pakistan talks as "meaningless" in light of the continued bombardment.

The situation was further complicated by a deleted social media post from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who labeled Israel as "evil and a curse for humanity."

Asif wrote on X, "While peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon," adding that he hoped those who created the state would "burn in hell."

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office responded sharply, calling the remarks "outrageous" and stating, "This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace."

Despite the friction, US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to lead the American delegation on Saturday, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. US President Trump told NBC News that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured him that strikes would become more "low-key."

However, Netanyahu remains firm on his military objectives: "Anyone who acts against Israeli civilians, we will strike them. We will continue to hit Hezbollah wherever necessary."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the destruction in Lebanon could cause "the peace process as a whole to fail," a sentiment echoed by other world leaders fearing a return to total regional war.

If the talks proceed, a central flashpoint will be the Strait of Hormuz. Trump recently accused Tehran of doing a "very poor job" of allowing oil flow, warning against any attempt to impose tolls on the waterway.

"Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonourable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!" Trump posted on Truth Social.

MarineTraffic data confirmed some progress, showing the Gabon-flagged tanker MSG passed through the strait on Thursday—the first non-Iranian vessel to do so since the ceasefire began.

Source: AFP