Tehran, Iran – The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that the decision regarding participation in the second round of negotiations scheduled to take place in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad,
now rests with the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament), Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
This announcement comes at a time of intense diplomatic activity in the region aimed at de-escalating tensions.
Delegating the decision to Ghalibaf means that the nature of Iran’s response and the level of
its representation in this round will be subject to high-level consultations within Tehran’s decision-making circles.
This could determine the fate and trajectory of future regional agreements.
Diplomatic anticipation of Iranian representation
Sources indicated that referring the decision back to the parliament’s leadership reflects differing viewpoints
within Iranian government circles regarding the wisdom of participating at this time.
Alternatively, there may be a desire to obtain certain guarantees before engaging in “Islamabad 2.”
The diplomatic community is also awaiting confirmation as to whether Tehran will send
a high-level delegation commensurate with the importance of the participating international delegations,
or whether it will limit itself to technical representation.
Qalibaf will make this decision in the coming hours based on assessments
of national security and the country’s supreme strategic interests.
Iran’s stance on Vance’s flight
The Iranian position is closely linked to the agenda of US Vice President J.D. Vance,
who remains in Washington awaiting clarity regarding the parties participating in the negotiations.
Observers believe that Iran’s ambiguity about the identities of its participants
indirectly influenced the US side’s reconsideration of its delegation’s departure time.
Washington seeks to ensure the presence of an Iranian representative with decision-making authority to guarantee the success of the talks.
Qalibaf’s confirmation of his participation is considered the “zero hour.” This could set the negotiations in motion in the Pakistani capital.
Pakistani mediation and bridging the gap between viewpoints
Pakistani diplomacy continues its intensive efforts, as both mediator and host, to secure the active participation of all relevant parties.
Islamabad is working to allay any concerns Tehran might have regarding the agenda for the second round of talks.
It emphasizes that the goal is to reach a common understanding that guarantees the stability of waterways and reduces regional polarization.
The question remains whether Qalibaf will give the green light for broader participation to break the current deadlock,
or whether Tehran will opt for a wait-and-see approach, anticipating more favorable political conditions.
