Vice President JD Vance left the United States on Friday for Pakistan ahead of high-stakes talks aimed at securing a lasting peace deal with Iran.While Vance was in the air, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social,"The Ira nians dont seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways. The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!"Vance, meanwhile, has struck a more measured tone, saying he was optimistic about the negotiations but warned that if Iran attempts to play us, the U.S. negotiating team is not going to be receptive.Iran on Friday cast doubt on whether the talks would even take place, citing what it described as violations of the two-week ceasefire agreement that paved the way for negotiations."Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Irans blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Irans parliamentary speaker, said. "These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin."RELATED STORY | How the Iran war is choking critical aid distribution around the worldPresident Donald Trump also accused Iran of failing to uphold the agreement."Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing Oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz," Trump complained on Truth Social on Thursday. "That is not the agreement we have!"Iran has repeatedly said it will not reopen the strait because Israel continues its aggression in Lebanon. Israels prime minister said Thursday that the country would seek the disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and begin direct talks with Lebanon as soon as possible. ...read more read less