Vice President Vance [AP Yonhap News]

US Vice President JD Vance, departing for Pakistan for peace negotiations with Iran on the 10th (local time), expressed both anticipation and a warning.

Speaking to reporters before boarding his plane at Andrews Joint Base near Washington D.C., Vice President Vance stated, "I am looking forward to the negotiations. I believe they will be positive."

He added, "As President (Donald Trump) has said, if Iran is willing to negotiate in good faith, we are more than willing to extend an olive branch. If they are looking to play games with us, they will find that the (US) delegation is not nearly as accommodating," he said.

He continued, "We are looking to have positive negotiations. The President has given us fairly clear guidelines," he added.

This is interpreted as a clear intention not to be pushed around in the negotiations, simultaneously conveying expectations for positive outcomes and a warning message not to play games.

Vice President Vance will meet with the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the 11th to negotiate an end to the war that began on February 28th.

This is the first meeting following the US and Iran's agreement on a two-week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan on the 7th.

The US delegation includes President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Iranian delegation has reportedly already arrived in Islamabad.

According to US media, the Iranian delegation, led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, and Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, arrived in Islamabad late on the evening of the 9th.

With the commencement of negotiations between the US and Iran on the 11th, the Iranian war, which has entered a two-week ceasefire, stands at a critical juncture for finding a breakthrough for peace.

Iran is reportedly demanding 10 points, including 'complete cessation of aggression against Iran,' 'withdrawal of US troops stationed in the Middle East,' 'complete lifting of sanctions against Iran,' 'negotiation on uranium enrichment levels and recognition of enrichment rights,' and 'compensation for war damages through the establishment of an investment fund.'

Among these, some, like the withdrawal of US troops from the Middle East, are completely unacceptable to the US. However, regarding sanctions relief and the processing of stored high-enriched uranium, some degree of agreement was reportedly reached in previous negotiations between the US and Iran, making the negotiation outcome a subject of attention.

In particular, the issue of opening and managing the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be a major point of contention. President Trump publicly warned Iran not to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.