Iran delegation still to leave for talks in Pakistan as Israel attacks Lebanon

April 10, Al Jazeera - Iran’s negotiating team has not yet left for scheduled talks with the US this weekend in Pakistan due to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, says Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Iran-based Center for Middle East Strategic Studies.

“The Iranian delegation has not departed from Tehran because the Iranian side is saying, that by the time that the Israeli strikes against Lebanon continue, there will be no negotiations in Islamabad,” Aslani said.

“This indicates that the continuation of the attacks in Lebanon has created uncertainty about the talks,” he told Al Jazeera.

“Additionally, there have been some shifts from the American side in terms of the 10-point plan that was considered to be a workable framework, even by the US president,” he said, adding that a “trust deficit” was now a major issue for Iranians.

“Iran has been distrusting the United States and the recent political shifts are provoking an old fear here in Tehran and that is the United States cannot be trusted in terms of its promises,” he said.

“This could also create pressure for the Iranian delegation from the public that Iran was attacked twice in the middle of negotiations so why are they again engaging in dialogue with the United States,” he added.