Senior Iranian officials arrive in Pakistan for negotiations with the US; Lebanon and Israel to hold peace talks in Washington next week.

AFP Reports: Iran's state broadcaster, IRIB, stated on its official website that the Iranian delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other security and economic officials. Iran reiterated its position that negotiations will only begin if the United States accepts Iran's preconditions. Ghalibaf previously stated that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the "removal of restrictions on Iran's frozen assets" are conditions for starting negotiations with the U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance. Official sources said the Islamabad negotiations will involve sensitive issues, including Iran's nuclear enrichment and freedom of commerce in the Strait of Hormuz. Since the start of the two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire, President Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's handling of the strategic waterway, which was supposed to be reopened. He posted on his social media platform, Truth Social: "The Iranians don't seem to realize they have no leverage at all, other than short-term blackmail of the world with international waterways... The only reason they still exist today is to negotiate!" Tehran, meanwhile, expressed outrage over Israeli attacks in Lebanon, insisting that Lebanon should also be covered by the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked both the U.S. and Iran for agreeing to meet but noted that the negotiations would be very difficult. In a televised speech, he said: "A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now the more difficult phase is coming, which is achieving a lasting ceasefire and resolving complex issues through negotiation." Additionally, the Lebanese Presidency announced today that talks will be held in Washington next week with Israel to discuss the possibility of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the start of negotiations between the two sides. A statement from the Lebanese Presidency noted that the Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S., the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., and the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon held their first conference call tonight. According to the statement, "All parties agreed during the call to hold the first meeting at the U.S. State Department on the 14th to discuss the date for announcing a ceasefire and starting Lebanon-Israel negotiations under U.S. mediation." (Compiled by: Hsu Jui-cheng) 1150411