Iran’s leadership is treating a U.S. proposal to hold talks in Islamabad with clear suspicion, viewing it less as a diplomatic opening and more as a potential trap. This assessment was reported by Axios, citing sources familiar with the situation.

According to those sources, Tehran has used intermediaries in Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey to signal that Washington’s growing military presence in the Middle East has only deepened its mistrust of the White House’s initiative. Rather than building confidence, the buildup has reinforced concerns about Washington’s intentions.

Iranian officials are particularly wary of a repeat of past episodes in which negotiations unfolded alongside military action. They point to U.S. strikes carried out in June 2025 and again in late February 2026 as examples they are determined not to see repeated.

As part of its outreach, Washington has reportedly handed over a draft agreement to Tehran consisting of 15 points. Sources say the proposal is designed to test whether Iran is prepared to soften its position on issues it has long treated as non-negotiable.

At the same time, the White House is said to be keeping tougher options on the table. Among them is the possibility of escalating the situation into a ground phase of operations. Israeli sources suggest that a meeting between representatives of the two countries could take place in Islamabad in the coming days.

Against this backdrop, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a sharply worded response. Its representatives accused the United States of attempting to mask failure as diplomacy and dismissed the initiative outright. They argued that Washington had reached a point where it was effectively negotiating with itself and warned that neither energy stability nor broader regional equilibrium would return until any intent to act against the Iranian people was abandoned.

The IRGC also stressed that the United States should not expect a return to previous levels of energy and oil prices and made it clear that Tehran sees no room for compromise on fundamental issues.