Trump pressures Iran as U.S. and Iran meet in Islamabad

President Donald Trump increased pressure on Iran as U.S. and Iranian delegations prepared to meet in Islamabad on Friday to seek an extension of a two-week ceasefire. The talks, set to run into the weekend, take place while the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to commercial shipping.

An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was expected to arrive Friday night. The U.S. team is led by Vice President J.D. Vance. Negotiators will address disputes over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, demands for reparations, and regional security guarantees.

Trump wrote on social media that Tehran’s main leverage was “short term extortion of the world by using International Waterways” and that the Iranians “have no cards.” He also said U.S. warships were being reloaded with “the best ammunition” and predicted the talks’ outcome would be clear “in about 24 hours.”

The Strait of Hormuz has been a central point of contention. Before the fighting, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas transited the strait. Shipping activity has not returned to normal since the ceasefire began; a Russian-flagged supertanker passed through late Thursday, but most vessel operators are awaiting clarity on the waterway’s status. The disruption has kept U.S. crude near $99 a barrel.

Iran has set conditions for the diplomacy. Ghalibaf said a ceasefire in Lebanon must be in place before negotiations proceed and called for the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad, without specifying amounts or mechanisms. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, posted on Telegram that Tehran would bring management of the Strait of Hormuz “to a new stage,” a statement that raised questions about whether Iran will press previous demands for greater control of the waterway. Iranian officials also reiterated calls for war reparations.

Violence in Lebanon continued to affect the talks. Israel carried out strikes in southern Lebanon after a major operation earlier in the week that local reports said killed more than 200 people. Hezbollah launched drones and rockets toward Israel, and Israeli medics reported several injuries in central and southern areas. After a phone call with Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to keep operations “low-key,” and he said Israel would open direct talks with Lebanon on disarming Hezbollah, with a U.S.-hosted meeting planned next week. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qasem declared the group’s “resistance will continue until its last breath.”

Casualty and damage figures cited by officials show widespread impact across the region. Reported deaths exceed 5,500 overall, with Iranian authorities estimating more than 3,600 fatalities and Lebanon reporting over 1,700. Israel says it has killed more than 1,400 Hezbollah fighters and has reported roughly three dozen deaths of its own forces. Gulf Arab states and Iraq have recorded additional casualties. U.S. Central Command reports 13 American troops killed. Damage to energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf has added to supply concerns.

Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry reported fresh attacks by Iran and allied groups overnight Thursday. For now, the ceasefire has largely held. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, ongoing strikes in Lebanon and differing demands from Tehran and Washington are among the issues the Islamabad talks will address as negotiators work through the weekend.