JD Vance Cautions Iran Ahead of Pakistan Talks, Warns Against ‘Playing’ US

US Vice President JD Vance has warned Iran against attempting to “play” the United States as he heads to Islamabad for crucial talks aimed at turning a fragile ceasefire into a durable peace deal.

Although a temporary truce has been reached, tensions remain high, with both sides accusing each other of failing to fully comply with the agreement.

“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance said before departing Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

“But if they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

US President Donald Trump has also expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s handling of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade route that was expected to reopen under the ceasefire.

Tehran, however, has criticised Israeli strikes in Lebanon, arguing they fall under the ceasefire terms.

Officials say discussions in Islamabad will address sensitive issues, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme and ensuring uninterrupted trade through the strait.

While Pakistan initially indicated the talks would begin Friday, Vance is expected to arrive Saturday.

Security has been significantly heightened around the Serena Hotel, the proposed venue, with major access routes sealed and signage promoting the “Islamabad Talks”.

Iran has hinted that its participation may depend on an end to Israeli military actions in Lebanon. “The holding of talks to end the war is dependent on the US adhering to its ceasefire commitments on all fronts, especially in Lebanon,” said Esmaeil Baqaei.

Iranian officials have also suggested that continued Israeli strikes could render the talks “meaningless”.

Despite this, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards indicated compliance with the ceasefire, stating they had “not launched anything at any country,” according to state media.

In social media posts that raised concerns about the stability of the truce, Trump accused Iran of doing a “very poor job” of allowing oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and violating the ceasefire agreement.

Even so, Vance, who is leading the US delegation alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, struck an optimistic note: “We’re going to try to have a positive negotiation.”

Mixed reactions and uncertainty

Scepticism remains among some residents in Tehran. A 30-year-old told AFP that much of Trump’s rhetoric was “pure noise and nonsense.”

“He wants to manipulate the Islamic republic into getting a deal. I think that was his intention, if you can say there is an intention,” the resident said.

Another resident, Sheida, expressed fear about the uncertain situation: “I am scared of the war starting again, and at the same time I’m scared of the regime staying.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global energy route, with about a fifth of the world’s oil passing through it in normal times, although traffic has slowed since the ceasefire began.

The two-week truce was designed to create space for negotiations to end a conflict that has already claimed thousands of lives and disrupted the global economy.

Ongoing conflict in Lebanon

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it fired missiles at Israel’s Ashdod naval base “in response to the enemy’s violation of the ceasefire and its repeated attacks on Beirut”.

Israel recently carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict began, killing more than 300 people.

Trump later said Israel was “scaling back” its operations, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had assured him future strikes would be more “low-key”.

A Western diplomat said there is increasing pressure from European, Gulf, and Egyptian countries on Israel to avoid further large-scale strikes following “Black Wednesday”.

Although Israel has not launched broad attacks in Beirut’s southern areas as earlier warned, it did strike near a government building in Nabatiyeh, killing eight security personnel, according to Lebanese state media.

The Israeli military said it has dismantled more than 4,300 Hezbollah sites since the conflict began.

The US has indicated that issues relating to Lebanon will be handled in separate talks next week, though no official confirmation has come from Israel or Lebanon.

The World Food Programme warned that food insecurity in Lebanon is worsening, with rising prices and disrupted supply chains adding to the humanitarian crisis.

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