Iran: The Ball Is in Trump's Court on Talks

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Nakvi visited Tehran on Saturday, engaging with high-ranking Iranian officials as part of Islamabad's ongoing efforts to foster dialogue between Iran and the United States. The visit comes amid stalled negotiations between the two nations.

According to Pakistani security and diplomatic sources, Nakvi met with senior Iranian representatives, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, as reported by Germany's dpa news agency. These discussions are focused on indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Nakvi has been a regular visitor to both capitals since the talks began.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army announced that its chief, Rodolphe Haykal, traveled to Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, Asim Munir. A source familiar with the visit told AFP that Haykal's trip is connected to Islamabad's mediation efforts in the Iran-U.S. negotiations, emphasizing Lebanon's crucial role in these talks.

The visits by Nakvi and Haykal occur during a period of heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. Despite a fragile ceasefire in place since April, the two countries have engaged in several mutual attacks. Negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, which began with Israeli-American attacks on Iran on February 28, have practically stalled.

U.S. President Donald Trump told NBC News that Iranian leaders have not yet reached an agreement with the U.S. because they are strong and proud, but he believes they have no choice but to accept a deal. However, Mohsen Rezaei, a military advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, told CNN that negotiations are at a dead end and Trump must break the stalemate, stating, "The ball is in Trump's court."

Iran is reportedly demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets upon signing an agreement, with an additional $12 billion to follow later. U.S. officials are reportedly hesitant, viewing the release of funds at this stage as diminishing a key leverage point against Iranian authorities, according to CNN.

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The ball is in Trump's court.