Negotiators in Pakistan – mixed feelings in Iran

TT

Published 11.10

 

           

             

          Pakistani police on their way to Islamabad to assist in security work ahead of this weekend's peace              talks between Iran and the US.1 / 2Photo: Anjum Naveed/AP/TT

An Iranian delegation has arrived in Islamabad ahead of the peace talks with the US, which begin on Saturday.

For many Iranians, it is difficult to believe in peace, not least after Donald Trump's threat to "wipe out an entire civilization".

The Pakistani capital is unusually quiet, reports The Times of Israel. Security ahead of the high-level meeting is enormous: the streets are practically deserted and police and military are controlling newly erected roadblocks.

The Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing sources with insight. It has been known for some time that the US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, who is expected to travel to Pakistan on Friday.

The gap between the two sides is said to be extensive, with disagreements not least over whether Lebanon should be included in an agreement.

“Very happy”

In Iran, the emotions are mixed. The announced two-week ceasefire is a relief, a university student in Tehran tells the AP.

“Everyone is very happy,” he says in an audio message on Whatsapp, but adds that there is widespread concern that the war will resume.

Tehran resident Maryam Saeedpoor ​​dares not believe that the war is over. She is still shaken by Trump’s threat to kill “an entire civilization.” In addition, the US and Israeli attacks have destroyed industries and infrastructure that helped the country endure the extensive international sanctions.

“For me, Tehran is the warmest, most beautiful city on earth, but now it is full of sadness and pain,” she tells the AP.

– They said they wanted to eliminate regime leaders, but so many innocent people have been killed.

Minister in a storm

According to Iranian authorities, more than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran, but health officials say the figure is higher.

Meanwhile, ahead of Saturday's peace talks, host country Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has found himself in a storm.

"Israel is evil and a curse on humanity. (...) I hope and pray that the people who created this cancer state on Palestinian soil, to get rid of European Jews, burn in hell," he wrote on Friday in a now-deleted X-post.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office responded by calling Asif's remarks "outrageous," Haaretz reports.