Direct Talks Begin as U.S. Agrees to Unfreeze Iranian Assets, Scale Back Lebanon Attacks
Tehran - BORNA - The transition to formal talks was made possible after two key Iranian preconditions were addressed: the American side’s acceptance to release Iran’s frozen assets and a noticeable reduction in the Zionist regime’s strikes on Beirut, effectively shifting the focus to southern Lebanon. This de-escalation is viewed as a significant step toward the implementation of a broader ceasefire.
Technical and expert-level discussions are now required to finalize the complex legal, economic, and security matters between Tehran and Washington, making direct engagement a necessity at this stage.
The Lebanon Ceasefire and Iranian Skepticism
Despite the start of talks, Iran maintains that the ceasefire in Lebanon has not yet been fully realized. The Iranian delegation has demanded that the U.S. fulfill its obligation to compel the Israeli regime to adhere strictly to the truce. This issue is being pursued vigorously through Pakistani mediators as well as within the negotiation chambers.
The Iranian team has reiterated its profound skepticism regarding Washington's intentions, citing a long history of American bad faith and broken promises in previous diplomatic rounds. Tehran’s presence in these Islamabad-hosted talks remains guarded and vigilant.
Exchange of Messages via Islamabad
Earlier on Saturday, the heads of the Iranian and American delegations held separate meetings with the host and primary mediator, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During these sessions, formal messages were exchanged, paving the way for the current phase.
Iran had previously outlined a 10-point framework for entering negotiations. By Thursday, two crucial conditions—the enforcement of the Lebanon ceasefire and the unblocking of Iranian assets—remained outstanding. With the official launch of the talks today, it appears that sufficient progress has been made on these fronts to satisfy the initial Iranian requirements for engagement.
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