Newshour Islamabad prepares to host Iran-US ceasefire talks
Apr 10, 2026
Mahmoud Bawari, Lebanese eyewitness who lost family in Baalbek, recounts civilian suffering. Ehud Olmert, former Israeli prime minister, discusses Israeli strategy and regional limits. Paul Adams, BBC diplomatic correspondent, analyzes US‑Iran negotiation logistics and historical precedents. They explore ceasefire talks in Islamabad, why both sides may need a truce, and Israel's role in Lebanon.
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Realistic Expectations For Islamabad Talks
- Expectations for the US–Iran talks are very low and success would first mean both sides simply meeting in the same room.
- Paul Adams says the agenda (nuclear program, Hormuz, sanctions) is vast and realistic progress would require long, expert negotiations not a few days.
Why Both Sides Need The Truce
- Both Iran and the US have incentives to make the truce stick: Iran's military capability has been heavily damaged and the US has struggled to achieve clear war aims.
- Paul Adams argues Iran feels relatively strong because it now asserts formal control over the Strait of Hormuz despite the damage.
Olmert Says Negotiation Better Than Deep Invasion
- Ehud Olmert warns Israel's ground campaign in Lebanon is counterproductive and unlikely to disarm Hezbollah without heavy invasion.
- He suggests negotiating with the Lebanese government and international actors like France is preferable to costly deep incursions.