US Edition
Iran says it won't participate in US peace talks without Lebanon ceasefire, release of assets
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran will not join talks until Israeli strikes stop in Lebanon and frozen assets are released, as Pakistan hosts mediation.
- On Friday, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran's Parliament, declared there will be no negotiations with the U.S. unless a ceasefire in Lebanon is established and Iran's "blocked assets" are released.
- Tensions escalated after Vice President Vance dismissed Iran's claim that the two-week ceasefire included Lebanon as a "misunderstanding," while Ghalibaf argued the "workable basis on which to negotiate" was violated before talks began.
- Amid the diplomatic standoff, Israel launched a wave of attacks on Lebanon Wednesday, killing over 300 people and injuring over 1,100 others, with nearly 1,900 deaths since March.
- Vice President Vance, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner are scheduled to hold talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad on Saturday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his Cabinet to negotiate with Lebanese officials focusing on disarming Hezbollah.
- Ghalibaf previously cited drone incursions and enrichment pressures as violations of Iran's 10-point proposal, suggesting these unresolved issues could stall the upcoming diplomatic process to transform the ceasefire into a permanent truce.
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88 Articles
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Tehran insists on ceasefire in Lebanon
Shortly before the peace negotiations begin, Iran is putting conditions in place for the US. In addition to a ceasefire in Lebanon, the release of assets is required.
The Algemeiner
Iran Demands Lebanon Ceasefire, Unfreezing of Assets Before Peace Talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi speaks during a press conference following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 17, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ramil Sitdikov/Pool Iran said on Friday that blocked Iranian assets must be released and that a ceasefire must take hold in Lebanon before peace talks can proceed, throwing last-minute doubt over negotiations scheduled for Saturday in Pakistan. Iran‘s parliament spea…
Daily Journal
US ceasefire with Iran: What’s next? A former diplomat explains 3 possible scenarios
Both countries seem tired of the costs of war and ongoing risks, but successful negotiations will have to overcome deep distrust by both sides.
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