US, Iran Set to Resume Talks as Early as Saturday in Islamabad; Trump Says Hormuz to Reopen Soon

The US and Iran are set to resume negotiations as early as the afternoon of Aug. 11 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Uncertainty remains over whether the meeting will go ahead, however, as Iran is sticking to its preconditions.

Iran is ready to begin talks with the US from Saturday afternoon if its conditions are met, Tasnim News Agency reported on Aug. 10. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad the same day leading a high-level delegation. The group included the foreign minister, the secretary-general of the defense committee and the central bank governor, along with other senior political, military and economic officials.

Ghalibaf said Iran was prepared to strike a deal if the US presented a sincere agreement and guaranteed Iran's rights. Tehran was acting in good faith, he said, but did not trust Washington. He added that the US had previously agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets and to a ceasefire in Lebanon. The talks would not begin until those commitments were fulfilled.

The US did not immediately comment on Iran's demands. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, however, struck a hard-line tone.

In a social media post, Trump said Iran appeared not to realize it had no cards other than using international waterways to threaten the world. He added that the only reason Iran had survived until now was to negotiate. Trump also voiced confidence that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen soon.

"The Strait of Hormuz will be opened soon," he wrote. "One way or another, the strait will be opened."

Vance, who is expected to lead the US delegation, made similar remarks aboard his flight to Pakistan. He said he expected a positive outcome, but added that if Iran tried to deceive the US, the negotiating team would not be accommodating.