ISLAMABAD: Iran has conveyed to mediators that it will join planned direct or indirect talks with the United States in Pakistan only if a comprehensive ceasefire takes effect in Lebanon, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the backchannel communications.

The condition surfaced as Pakistan-led efforts to de-escalate the broader US-Iran conflict appeared to hit temporary setbacks before yielding a fragile two-week truce agreement announced on April 8.

Regional mediators including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt have spent weeks shuttling proposals between Washington and Tehran.

Iranian officials repeatedly stressed that any engagement in Islamabad must address parallel violence involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israeli operations have intensified.

Pakistan’s role gained prominence after Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar publicly confirmed indirect talks via Pakistani channels, with the United States sharing a 15-point framework for de-escalation.

Tehran deliberated the points while insisting on security guarantees, sanctions relief and an end to strikes on its allies.

Diplomatic sources indicated Iran viewed certain US demands as excessive, particularly those linked to its nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier reports from The Wall Street Journal cited mediators claiming efforts had reached a dead end, with Iran unwilling to meet US officials in Islamabad in the immediate days and rejecting American conditions outright.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described US positions as unacceptable in statements carried by state media.

Yet Pakistani officials pushed forward, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir engaging directly with US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

These intensive contacts produced a two-phased proposal, including an initial ceasefire and longer-term settlement framework tentatively called the Islamabad Accord.

On April 8, Sharif announced that the United States, Iran and their respective allies had agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire effective across the region, explicitly including Lebanon.

The Pakistani premier invited delegations from both sides to Islamabad for further negotiations aimed at a permanent resolution.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed Tehran’s participation in the talks during a telephone conversation with Sharif, expressing appreciation for Pakistan’s tireless mediation.

The agreement reportedly allows conditional safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint that handles roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil trade.

Iran had previously restricted shipping in response to US and Israeli strikes, sending oil prices surging by more than 15 per cent in early April.

Despite the announcement, discrepancies emerged over Lebanon’s inclusion.

Pakistani statements emphasised a region-wide halt, yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the truce does not cover operations against Hezbollah.

Israeli forces conducted their heaviest wave of strikes on Lebanon in recent weeks, targeting over 100 sites in Beirut and southern areas within minutes, resulting in dozens killed and hundreds wounded according to Lebanese health officials.

Hezbollah sources claimed they paused attacks in line with the broader understanding but accused Israel of grave violations.

The conflict escalation began earlier in 2026 with US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, prompting Iranian retaliation including ballistic missile launches toward Gulf states and proxy actions.

Pakistan positioned itself as a neutral facilitator, leveraging its relations with both Washington and Tehran while coordinating with Turkey and Egypt.

Analysts described the mediation as one of Pakistan’s most significant diplomatic initiatives in years, with some observers calling it a potential game-changer for regional stability.

The two-week window is intended to allow breathing space for substantive talks in Islamabad, possibly as early as April 10.

Key sticking points remain Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, nuclear enrichment levels and demands for US security guarantees against future attacks.

Iran has presented its own ten-point counter-proposal that includes permanent cessation of hostilities, lifting of sanctions and compensation elements.

US President Donald Trump welcomed elements of the Iranian plan as a workable basis while maintaining pressure through public deadlines and threats of escalated strikes.

Global markets reacted with cautious optimism, with oil futures retreating modestly after the ceasefire news, though analysts warned volatility could return if Lebanon violence persists.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint, with any prolonged closure capable of disrupting energy supplies to Asia and Europe.

Pakistan has emphasised that sustainable peace requires addressing root causes, including the Israeli-Hezbollah front and Iran’s nuclear concerns.

Iranian officials have reiterated gratitude to Pakistan while stressing that participation in Islamabad talks hinges on tangible de-escalation in Lebanon.

As delegations prepare for potential travel, the coming days will test whether the fragile truce can hold amid continued Israeli operations and differing interpretations of its scope.

Success in Islamabad could pave the way for broader de-escalation, while failure risks renewed escalation with global repercussions.