Iran armed forces remain ready during US talks, officials say

Iran’s first vice president said a deal with the United States is possible if negotiations are led by what he described as an “America First” approach, but warned there would be no agreement otherwise.

“If we negotiate … an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable,” Mohammad Reza Aref said in a post on X.

“However, if we face representatives of ‘Israel First,’ there will be no deal … we will inevitably continue our defense even more vigorously,” he added.

Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is engaged in decision-making on major issues including the war despite serious injuries, three people close to his inner circle told Reuters.

They said Khamenei was taking part in meetings with senior officials via audio conferencing and remained “mentally sharp” as he recovers.

He suffered severe facial and leg injuries in an airstrike that killed his father earlier in the conflict, with one source saying his face was disfigured.

Khamenei’s condition and whereabouts have not been publicly confirmed since the attack.

Talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad depend on earlier meetings with Pakistan’s prime minister and could take place later on Saturday, Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported.

The report said the Iranian delegation would meet the prime minister at 1 p.m. local time and that whether negotiations go ahead would depend on those discussions.

It added the talks were planned as a one-day meeting and that reports suggesting they would last several days were not accurate.

The US delegation, led by JD Vance, arrives in Islamabad aboard two US Air Force planes, with envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner among those on board, as Pakistani officials receive the group at a military air base.

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Pakistan commended the US commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability in upcoming talks with Iran as the American delegations arrived in Islamabad, its foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope that the parties would work toward a solution to the conflict, according to the statement.

It added that Pakistan remained willing to continue facilitating the talks.