The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, arrived in Pakistan for talks with Iranian officials aimed at shoring up a shaky ceasefire and paving the way for a permanent end to the fighting. The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, was already in Islamabad. In Islamabad, the streets of a normally bustling capital were deserted Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of the talks. The talks mark the first such meeting since the war began more than a month ago. The talks began days after a fragile, two-week ceasefire was announced. The war has killed thousands of people and shaken global markets. The war caused lasting damage to infrastructure in half a dozen Middle Eastern countries. Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz has largely cut off Persian Gulf oil and gas exports, sending energy prices soaring. The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel, and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Lebanon's health ministry said the death toll from the war has surpassed 2,000.
Vance arrived in Islamabad at the head of a delegation that includes President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at noon Saturday, according to the Tasnim news agency. Iran’s negotiating team, chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Arghchi, met late Friday with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir. Vance is a reluctant defender of the war with little diplomatic experience. Qalibaf is a former commander with Iran's Revolutionary Guard who has issued fiery statements since fighting began.
The ceasefire brokered by Pakistan still faces hurdles in the talks beginning Saturday. Iran has set conditions before negotiations can begin. Iran's state-run news agency said the three-party talks began after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met. Iran's delegation presented 'red lines' including compensation for damage caused by U.S.-Israeli strikes and releasing Iran's frozen assets. It remains unclear whether these preconditions have been fully met or are still under negotiation.
Recent violence in Lebanon threatens the ceasefire's stability. Lebanon’s state media reports three killed in Israeli strikes. The three were killed when an airstrike hit and destroyed a residential building in Maifadoun town in the southern province of Nabatiyeh, according to the agency. Hezbollah said it fired a barrage of rockets that targeted a military facility in northern Israel. The ceasefire is threatened by deep disagreements and Israel's continued attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The current status of the fragile ceasefire is uncertain amid this reported violence.
The White House confirmed the direct nature of the talks. Iranian state TV said talks continued as of 1 a.m. Sunday in Islamabad. The meetings come ahead of high-stakes talks between Iran and the U.S. in Islamabad which aim at reaching a permanent end of the war in the Middle East. Pakistan’s government has set up a state-of-the-art media center to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said. The exact timeline and schedule of the talks are not fully clear, as sources imply different start times or durations.
Third-party involvement has been significant in facilitating the discussions. Chinese, Egyptian, Saudi, and Qatari officials were in Islamabad to indirectly facilitate talks, according to regional officials. The delegations discussed with Pakistan how to advance the ceasefire. This regional engagement underscores the broad international concern over the conflict's escalation and potential resolution.
Historically, direct U.S.-Iran contact has been rare. Since 1979, the most direct U.S.-Iran contact was in 2013 when President Obama called President Rouhani. The most recent highest-level meetings were between Secretary Kerry and counterpart Zarif during nuclear program negotiations. This context highlights the unprecedented nature of the current Islamabad talks amid ongoing hostilities.
President Trump instructed the entire negotiating team, comprising Secretary of State Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, to engage in honest and transparent negotiations. President Trump assessed that Iran possesses skilled negotiators but are less formidable as combatants. Vance warned Iran not to 'play' the U.S. before departing for Pakistan, according to press conference remarks. He cautioned that the fragile ceasefire could be easily shattered if Iran fails to engage in genuine negotiations. Vance issued a stern warning to Tehran, underscoring the US's unwavering commitment to a fair agreement. He highlighted the US's considerable leverage, encompassing military, diplomatic, and economic measures, which will be deployed if Iran refuses to reciprocate. Vance pointed out internal divisions within Iran regarding the deal, with officials making contradictory statements on social media.
The implications of these talks remain uncertain, with key unknowns persisting. Whether Iran's preconditions for talks, such as an Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon and release of blocked assets, have been met or are being negotiated is unclear. The specific outcomes or progress made in the high-stakes talks between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad have not been disclosed. The full composition and roles of all delegations and third-party facilitators involved in the talks are not fully detailed. As negotiations continue, the world watches closely for signs of a breakthrough that could end a devastating conflict.