According to a report by Sky News on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Iranian officials participating in diplomatic engagements in Pakistan have reportedly expressed confidence that their country has already achieved strategic success in the ongoing conflict, even as critical negotiations continue behind closed doors in Islamabad.
According to Sky News international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn, who is currently reporting from Islamabad, the visiting Iranian delegation appeared notably confident upon arrival in Pakistan, with observers describing their demeanour as relaxed and self-assured as they were received by Pakistani officials at the airport.
“They landed last night with smiles on their faces and walked with a kind of swagger across the tarmac as they were greeted by Pakistani officials,” Waghorn said, characterising the atmosphere surrounding the delegation’s arrival.
The perceived confidence from Iranian officials is reportedly linked to their assessment of developments surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Iranian officials are believed to view their strategic leverage in the region as a central factor strengthening their negotiating position.
Beyond regional military considerations, the Iranian side is also said to be closely monitoring political sentiment in the United States, where the war has become increasingly controversial. According to Waghorn, there is a belief among some Iranian officials that public opinion in the US is turning against continued military engagement, including within segments of President Donald Trump’s political base.
“There is a belief that the Americans were misled and duped into this war by an Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for his own reasons,” Waghorn noted, describing what he said was part of the Iranian interpretation of political divisions in Washington. On that basis, Iranian officials reportedly believe the US is unlikely to re-escalate the conflict or return to full-scale military action.
“As a result, the Iranians believe that the Americans will not go back to war,” he added. “So they believe they’re coming here effectively to discuss the terms of their victory.”
However, US officials are understood to reject this interpretation entirely, viewing the situation and diplomatic process in a very different light. According to Waghorn, this divergence in perception is setting the stage for complex and potentially tense negotiations in Islamabad.
The Iranian delegation is reportedly taking a firm stance ahead of any formal talks, insisting that discussions will not proceed unless a ceasefire framework explicitly includes Lebanon. They are also demanding the unfreezing of certain Iranian assets as part of any broader diplomatic arrangement.
“They’re playing hardball,” Waghorn said, adding that while the Iranians are maintaining their conditions, talks are still expected to take place in some form.
Despite the deep differences between both sides, diplomatic engagement is anticipated to continue, with initial discussions possibly beginning within the day. The broader question, according to observers, is whether any meaningful progress can be achieved given the significant gap between the negotiating positions.
“The key question is whether they can make enough progress despite such a gulf between the two sides, and whether that can sustain another two weeks of diplomacy,” Waghorn concluded…..See More
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