By Our Correspondent

WASHINGTON - As the world waits for US and Iranian delegations to arrive in Pakistan's capital for landmark peace talks, a senior US official has accused Israel of attempting to derail the negotiations, warning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "willfully" carried out attacks on Lebanon despite an agreement that included a ceasefire there.

The accusation comes as world leaders, including Iran, expressed concerns over Israeli strikes on Lebanon.

A US official in Washington, speaking to The South Asia Times on condition of anonymity, painted a stark picture of internal tensions within the US-Israel alliance.

"Israel is attempting to derail the peace talks with Iran," the official said. "As soon after the announcement of the ceasefire by President Trump on the next morning, they bombed Lebanon despite Lebanon being part of the ceasefire announcement. Netanyahu willfully carried out these attacks because he doesn't want a peace agreement with Iran."

The official elaborated on Israel's broader strategic objectives: "We think his desire is to push Arab countries into war with Iran and destabilize the region."

According to the US official, President Trump's hands are tied by circumstances beyond his control.

"But the Iran war created an energy crisis across the world, and now Trump is facing a lot of pressure from world leaders urging him to immediately end the war," the official said. "So Trump has no other choice except to end the war."

The official added that Iran, too, is not in a position to continue fighting. "They have also suffered a lot of damage and destruction during the month-long war."

The US official reserved special praise for Pakistan's role in bringing both sides to the table.

"It is Pakistan who not only stopped Trump from further attacks on Iran but also got Iran to agree to come to the table," the official said. "So Pakistan's role is very important, especially Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir."

The official highlighted the unique relationship between the Pakistani army chief and the US president.

"Munir has personal and close relations with Trump, and President Trump trusts him," the official said.

This assessment aligns with previous reporting by Al Jazeera, which noted that Munir's relationship with Trump dates back to early last year and that the Pakistani army chief has visited Washington twice since then. Trump has publicly praised Munir on several occasions, telling reporters that Pakistanis "know Iran very well, better than most" after hosting the army chief for an unprecedented lunch last year.

As of Friday morning, neither the US nor Iranian delegations had arrived in Islamabad, despite earlier expectations.

On Thursday, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, posted on X that the Iranian delegation would arrive on Friday night. However, he later deleted the tweet without explanation. An official at the Iranian embassy in Islamabad told AFP the post was removed "because of some issues" and refused to say whether the delegation was still expected.

The uncertainty follows a report by Iran's Fars News Agency, citing a knowledgeable source, claiming that Tehran has officially informed Pakistani authorities that it will not participate in peace talks until a ceasefire is established in Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also stated that any talks aimed at ending the war would be contingent on Washington honoring ceasefire commitments on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon.

Diplomatic sources indicate that even if delegations arrive later Friday, formal negotiations are now more likely to begin on Saturday morning rather than Friday evening.

The US delegation is expected to be led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and former senior White House adviser. This marks the highest-level US official visit to Pakistan since then-Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Islamabad in January 2011.

The Iranian delegation is expected to include Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with four senior commanders from Iran's Revolutionary Guard, according to Pakistani sources.

In a move to facilitate the high-stakes diplomatic engagement, Pakistan has announced visa-on-arrival facilities for all delegates and journalists traveling to Islamabad for the talks.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the decision on X, stating that airlines have been requested to allow eligible passengers to board without prior visas . Dedicated desks have been set up at airports to assist arrivals, and immigration authorities have been directed to provide full assistance.

The move signals Pakistan's commitment to hosting an inclusive diplomatic forum despite the uncertain timeline.

Pakistani authorities have implemented unprecedented security measures across Islamabad. Major roads leading to the diplomatic enclave, as well as key government installations including the Prime Minister's Office, the President's House, the Supreme Court, and the Foreign Ministry, have been closed since Thursday morning.

The delegations are expected to stay at a luxury hotel in the capital's high-security Red Zone, with the Pakistani military providing comprehensive security.

The fundamental dispute threatening the talks centers on whether Lebanon is included in the ceasefire agreement.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has consistently maintained that the ceasefire covers "everywhere, including Lebanon." Iran agrees.