The fifteen-day ceasefire between the US and Iran is being severely tested in an environment that remains extremely fragile.
The eyes of the international community are focused on Islamabad, where US-Iran talks are expected to take place on Saturday.
On the Pakistani side, Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Security Advisor, head of the country's main intelligence agency, General Asim Malik, are expected to participate in the talks.
On the American side, Vice President JD Vance, White House special envoy Steve Whitkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper will be present.
Recently, it was reported from Iran that the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Majid Takht Ravani, will participate in the meeting.
While Donald Trump seems optimistic about peace, he has also used harsh language towards Tehran, warning that Iran is not adhering to the deal. Specifically, he stated that Iran is “doing a very bad job” by allowing oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
"This is not the deal we have!" he stressed in a post on the Truth Social platform.
Tensions on the ground and diplomatic moves
Despite the climate of negotiations, military activity has not completely stopped. The launch of a rocket by Hezbollah towards Tel Aviv in the early hours of Friday was a reminder of how easily the calm can collapse.
According to recent reports from foreign media, Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered direct talks with Lebanon in Washington next week. A move that brought a slight increase in the price of WTI in the markets.
At the same time, the death toll continues to rise in Iran, after it was confirmed last night that former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, who died from wounds sustained after a bombing in Tehran, was killed.
Humanitarian crisis and blockade
International organizations are sounding the alarm about the cost of war on civilians. UNICEF speaks of a price tag of 7 Iran continues to be high, while the World Health Organization makes urgent calls to end evacuation orders in areas that are affecting the functioning of major hospitals in Beirut.
