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NEW DELHI: As efforts intensify to stabilise a shaky ceasefire between Iran and the United States, a new dimension has come into focus: China's behind.

Pakistan is set to host high-stakes direct negotiations between the United States and Iran on Friday (April 10) as both sides try to prevent further escalation of the deadly war, which began in late-February.

Pakistan will host US-Iran peace talks with the officials of both countries in its capital on Saturday, April 11. On April 11, senior representatives from the US and Iran in the war will arrive in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, located in the lower reaches of the Margalla Hills.

The developments come as a fragile ceasefire pact between the United States and Iran hangs in the balance, with the Islamic republic saying that the truce also includes a halt on Israeli military offensive in Lebanon.

Iran has reportedly refused US peace talks in Islamabad unless a ceasefire is first reached in Lebanon.

Israel lashed out at Pakistan following Pak defence minister Khwaja Asif's outrageous remarks, accusing Tel Aviv of committing 'genocide' in Lebanon amid peace talks between Iran and US in Islamabad. Israel responded that these statements by "neutral arbiter for peace" government cannot be tolerated

Despite the high-level attendance, the negotiations are expected to take place indirectly, with US and Iranian officials seated separately while Pakistani intermediaries shuttle proposals between them.

Pakistan is prepping up for the event even though uncertainty looms over the US-Iran talks, with no official confirmation of delegate arrivals on the scheduled start date, even as Pakistan eased visa requirements for officials and journalists attending the negotiations.

Iran is not going to send its senior officials to Islamabad for talks with the United States, as per the country's state-run media.

Pakistan is set to host high-stakes indirect negotiations between United States and Iranian representatives in Islamabad, in an effort to stabilise a .