NPR
Iran's president heads to Pakistan as U.S.-Iran teams work on war-ending deal
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+ Special Series Middle East conflict Conflict in the Middle East has been escalating. These stories provide context for current developments and the history that led up to them.
− Anjum Naveed/AP hide caption
ISLAMABAD — Iran's president was traveling to Pakistan on Tuesday for talks with officials who have been mediating negotiations between Tehran and Washington on a permanent end to the war in the Middle East even as discrepancies were emerging on what had been agreed so far.
+ Anjum Naveed/AP hide caption
ISLAMABAD — Iran's president arrived in Pakistan Tuesday to meet with officials mediating talks on a permanent end to its war with the U.S., as discrepancies emerged on what had been agreed upon so far and violence broke out again in Lebanon.
− and Iran agree to a 'road map' for a final deal, mediators say President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Islamabad comes as technical teams were working on details of the deal, following high-level negotiations in Switzerland on Monday led by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
+ and Iran agree to a 'road map' for a final deal, mediators say President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Islamabad comes as technical teams were working on details following high-level negotiations in Switzerland on Monday between the U.S. and Iran.
− In Tehran, Iran's capital, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters that no visits have been scheduled for the U.N.
+ Middle East conflict What you need to know about the preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement signed by Trump In Tehran, Iran's capital, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters that no visits were scheduled for the U.N.
− watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — to see Iranian nuclear sites bombed by the United States last year.
+ watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — to examine Iranian nuclear sites bombed by the U.S.
− Vance had previously said the negotiations in Switzerland won an agreement for IAEA to inspect the sites.
+ last year. U.S. Vice President JD Vance had said the negotiations he helped lead in Switzerland won an agreement for the inspectors to visit the sites.
− The IAEA has been in and out of Iran since Israel's 12-day war against Iran in 2025, but has not been granted access to the bombed enrichment sites targeted by the U.S.
+ The IAEA has not responded to requests for comment over its possible role.
− in that war.
+ It has been in and out of Iran since Israel's 12-day war in 2025, but has not been granted access to bombed enrichment sites targeted by the U.S.
− Security was tight in the area of Islamabad where the Iranian president was to meet with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
+ The U.S.
− It's Pezeshkian's first visit since the conflict started with the U.S.
+ said negotiators have discussed "mechanisms" to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil transit that Iran effectively blocked during the war, remains open.
− and Israeli attack on Iran on Feb.
+ Ship traffic is increasing but questions remain about who controls the strait.
Meanwhile, violence flared again in southern Lebanon as Israeli soldiers opened fire, killing two people.
+ The reports of violence came after two days of calm following a ceasefire brokered on Saturday. Any renewal of heavy fighting could threaten the broader diplomatic talks, since Iran has demanded that a full truce in Lebanon be part of any comprehensive deal.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials received Pezeshkian upon his arrival in Islamabad amid tight security, according to Pakistani state media.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also joined the delegation.
Vehicles drives past welcoming billboards featuring Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (right) with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (center) and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alongside an overhead bridge in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday. Anjum Naveed/AP hide caption
It's the Iranian president's first visit since the U.S. and Israel launched war on Iran on Feb.
+ Pezeshkian and Sharif were to hold a joint news conference after their discussions.
− Pezeshkian and Sharif were to hold joint news conference after their discussions.
+ In the initial talks, marking the start of a 60-day process that seeks to reach a permanent deal to end the Iran war, Iran and the U.S. agreed to create a "de-confliction cell" to address the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.
− In the initial talks, marking the start of a 60-day diplomatic process that seeks to reach a permanent deal to end the Iran war, Iran and the U.S.
+ Ahead of his meetings in Pakistan, Pezeshkian cautioned that "the effectiveness of the talks depends on full commitment to the agreed obligations and their precise implementation."
Iran suggested that the talks in Switzerland led to the creation of specific negotiation groups, including those focused on sanctions relief, nuclear issues, reconstruction, and monitoring, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
The report quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, a deputy foreign minister leading the technical talks, saying the countries also formed a contact mechanism over ships moving through Hormuz and the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israel occupies part of Lebanon and insists it must be able to attack militants launching attacks into northern Israel.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces opened fire and killed two men in the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported, saying the pair were next to a bulldozer clearing a road.
Separately, the agency said Israeli troops fired on residents near Hadatha who were heading to carry out a burial with a Lebanese army escort.
There was no immediate comment from Israel.
No Israeli airstrikes or shelling have been reported since Sunday, a day after a ceasefire was reached, and Hezbollah also has not claimed any attacks in what has been the longest halt in the fighting since the latest Israel-Hezbollah war erupted on March 2.
Following the talks in Switzerland, Vance said if Iranian financial assets were unfrozen, they would be used to buy American-grown corn, wheat and soy.
Vance also said the U.S.
− agreed to create a "de-confliction cell" to address the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia group.
+ and Qatar would have approval over the process.
− The U.S.
+ However, Iran has no current demand for U.S.
− said negotiators also discussed "mechanisms" to ensure the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the transit of oil that Iran had effectively blocked during the war, remains open.
+ crops and its foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday that Tehran's decisions on what to import would be based on "prices and quality."
"It is interesting that the philosophy and goal of the war, which was the destruction of the Iranian civilization and the collapse of Iran, has become enriching American farmers," Baghaei said.
− Ahead of his meetings in Pakistan, Pezeshkian cautioned that "the effectiveness of the talks depends on full commitment to the agreed obligations and their precise implementation."
"Progress on this path will be measured by practical adherence to accepted responsibilities," he wrote on X.
+ Iran's ambassador in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, questioned Vance's contention that the U.S.
− "Statements outside the agreed text do not help advance the negotiations."
Iran suggested the ongoing technical talks in Switzerland have led to the creation of specific negotiation groups, which include those focused on sanctions relief, nuclear issues, reconstruction and monitoring, according to a the state-run IRNA news agency.
+ and Qatar would approve how Iran uses unfrozen funds.
− Middle East conflict What you need to know about the preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement signed by Trump The report quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, a deputy foreign minister leading the technical talks, saying that the countries involved also formed a contact mechanism over ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz and over the fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah.
+ "Iran is the only country who decides what to do with those assets," he told reporters.
− It remains unclear whether the de-confliction cell being created will be enough to stop fighting between the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Israel, which occupies part of Lebanon and insists it must maintain a free hand to attack militants launching attacks into northern Israel.
+ Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the "de-confliction cell" would include the Lebanese government and "ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon." But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin said Monday that his military still has "full freedom of action" to thwart any threats.
− Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said the cell would include the Lebanese government and would "ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon," but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised new questions late on Monday, saying his military still has "full freedom of action to thwart any direct or emerging threat to them or to the residents of the north."
Neither Israel nor Hezbollah are signatories to the U.S.-Iran deal, and Netanyahu has vowed to keep his forces in southern Lebanon until any threat to Israel is eliminated.
+ Neither Israel nor Hezbollah is a signatory to the U.S.-Iran deal.
+ Netanyahu has vowed to keep his forces in southern Lebanon until all threats to Israel are eliminated.
− U.S.
+ When asked about Netanyahu's comments, U.S.
− President Donald Trump later said "we're going to take a look at it," when asked about Netanyahu's comments, adding that he wouldn't say what action he would take but that the situation would "get solved."
"I'm a problem solver, I get problems solved real fast, including with Bibi," he said, using a nickname for Netanyahu.
+ President Donald Trump said "we're going to take a look at it," adding that the situation would "get solved."
The main highway leading south from Beirut was jammed Tuesday with people displaced from southern Lebanon returning to their homes. Among them was Hawraa Nour El-Din, from the village of Khirbet Selm.
− At the moment, the renewed ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered on Saturday, appears to be holding with no new Israeli or Hezbollah strikes reported overnight.
+ "We don't want the negotiations done by the government," she said. "We want Iran to negotiate on our behalf, and we are returning victorious, whether everyone likes it or not."
Lebanon and Israel planned another round of direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, which were expected to focus on developing a plan for an Israeli withdrawal.
− Lebanon and Israel planned another round of direct talks in Washington on Tuesday, which are expected to focus on developing a plan for an Israeli withdrawal.