US President Trump. Photo: File
United States President Donald Trump said on Friday his country is loading warships with “best weapons ever made” as a US delegation is headed to Pakistan for talks with Iran, warning force could be used if no deal is reached.
Following a devastating six-week war that has left thousands dead and pushed the global economy to the brink of recession, the US and Iran are set to hold talks in Islamabad on Saturday.
However, just a day before the talks, President Trump warned of the use of force if the negotiations failed to yield results.
“We have a reset going. We’re loading up the ships with the best ammunition, the best weapons ever made,” Trump said in an interview with the New York Post, adding that the weapons are “even better than what we did previously”.
“And if we don’t have a deal, we will be using them, and we will be using them very effectively,” he said.
Asked if he thinks the talks would be successful, Trump responded: “We’re going to find out in about 24 hours. We’re going to know soon.”
Trump’s remarks came hours after US Vice President JD Vance said Washington would meet the Iranian side with “open hands”, expecting the negotiations to be “positive”, as he departed Washington for Pakistan.
Lebanon ceasefire, asset release must precede talks with US, says Qalibaf
Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets must be ensured before the commencement of negotiations with the US.
In a statement on X, Ghalibaf said: “Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets before the commencement of negotiations.”
“These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,” he added.
Read: JD Vance hopeful of ‘positive’ outcome as he departs for US-Iran talks in Islamabad
Pakistan, together with Türkiye, China, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, managed to secure a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran on Wednesday, 40 days after the US and Israel initiated attacks on Iran on February 28.
Pakistan is set to host what could prove to be one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements in recent history, as senior leaders from the US and Iran arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes negotiations following a devastating six-week.
The American delegation will be led by Vice President Vance, accompanied by Trump’s key Middle East envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On the Iranian side, Ghalibaf is expected to head the delegation, alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials
Islamabad has effectively been placed under an unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the talks. Key routes have been sealed, security personnel heavily deployed, and surveillance heightened to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries. Officials say the negotiations will take place at a secure, undisclosed location, away from the media spotlight.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the region. Last month, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, which prompted Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East led to efforts by political and military leadership in Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.
To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Islamabad, with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The meeting grabbed the world’s attention and was widely appreciated for Pakistan’s efforts.
Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East.
