ISLAMABAD, April 17 (Xinhua) — Diplomatic momentum is gaining pace in United States-Iran tensions after a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon eased a key Iranian concern, raising prospects for renewed negotiations.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, expressing hope that the development would pave the way for sustainable peace in the region.
In a statement shared on X, Sharif said the ceasefire was facilitated through diplomatic efforts and underscored the importance of dialogue in resolving conflicts.
Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s parliamentary leader Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran’s delegation to last week’s Islamabad talks with Washington, said a Lebanon truce matters to Iran as much as its own ceasefire.
Hours later, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, addressing one of Tehran’s key conditions for advancing negotiations.
The Lebanon ceasefire follows a fragile April 8 truce after 40 days of fighting involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Subsequent talks in Islamabad failed to produce a breakthrough, but contacts have continued.
Both sides have since signaled readiness to re-engage. Iranian ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said Tehran is prepared for “serious and constructive talks,” reiterating that Islamabad remains the only trusted venue for engagement with Washington.
Trump echoed that tone, telling reporters Washington is “very close” to a deal, with Iran agreeing to abandon nuclear weapons pursuit. He said the two countries will “probably” resume in-person talks over the weekend, possibly in Islamabad, hinting he might visit Pakistan if a deal is signed.
Pakistan remains pivotal, maintaining open lines between the two sides. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi confirmed ongoing consultations to schedule the next round, without firm dates. “Positive shifts on the Israel-Lebanon front are encouraging and could hasten de-escalation across the board,” he noted.
Global players are also pushing for diplomacy. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the top priority is to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table. Egypt and Trkiye’s foreign ministers jointly urged a swift resumption, cautioning that prolonged deadlock imperils regional stability.
Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in Islamabad, with large-scale search operations, expanded checkpoints and increased deployment of police, army and paramilitary forces.
The previous round of talks in Islamabad, attended by senior delegations led by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ghalibaf, lasted over 20 hours but ended without agreement. However, backchannel contacts are believed to have narrowed differences, raising hopes for more structured negotiations.
Amid the diplomatic push, key sticking points remain, including Iran’s nuclear program and control over the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for 20 percent of global oil. An Iranian parliamentary official said Tehran seeks a “regulatory role” in the waterway rather than disruption.
The U.S. responded forcefully: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled a fresh economic sanctions drive and military red lines if talks falter. Iran retorted that prolonged blockades could unravel ceasefires, yet vowed good-faith bargaining.
Analysts said the next phase of engagement, if realized, could shift toward technical, deal-oriented discussions.
Former Pakistani diplomat Babar Amin noted decent odds for a breakthrough but cautioned that the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, frozen assets, and Iran’s economic reintegration will spark fierce debate.
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