Middle East crisis Peace talks

Iranian President Visits Pakistan for Security Talks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is arriving in Islamabad today for talks with the Pakistani leadership, reports the AP. Pezeshkian is expected to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his one-day visit.

According to Iranian state media, the trip is aimed at ensuring that the recently signed memorandum of understanding with the United States is fully implemented in accordance with international law.

Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are preparing for a new round of direct talks in Washington, writes Reuters. The negotiations are taking place in the shadow of the Iran-US agreement, which according to the news agency has strengthened Hezbollah and weakened the Lebanese state's position vis-à-vis Hezbollah and Israel.

Analysis: 40 Years of Sanctions Are Hard to Lift

Iran has billions to gain from the US's suspended oil sanctions, but there are major obstacles to lifting four decades of restrictions. Andrea Shalal and Timothy Gardner write in an analysis for Reuters. Ending the sanctions system could be both legally and politically complicated and take a long time.

The question is whether the 60-day pause can develop into a more lasting economic respite for Iran. If the remaining sanctions are also lifted, it would mean a clear shift in US Middle East policy, they write.

President Donald Trump can make some decisions on his own, but many sanctions measures require congressional approval. The temporary agreement has already faced criticism from Republican members of Congress.

But the challenges also exist in Iran. In Newsweek, Tom O’Connor points to two risks for the regime: continued popular discontent and possible conflicts within the ruling elite, which is still divided between reformist forces and conservative principlists.

JD Vance in talks with Lebanese president

US Vice President JD Vance and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun have now discussed plans for a de-escalation of the conflict in the country, news agencies report.

Lebanon and a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah are an important piece of the puzzle in the agreement between the US and Iran, but Aoun himself did not participate in the negotiations in Switzerland. In yesterday’s talks, which also included Trump envoy Jared Kushner and the mediating country Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin al-Thani, the parties discussed how to create lasting peace in Lebanon.

“We really believe that we can reach a point where Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are protected, and Israel’s security is protected,” JD Vance told reporters after the meeting.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military had been granted “full freedom of action” to respond to threats emerging in southern Lebanon.