Senior Iranian and American delegations met Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad to begin negotiations towards a deal to end the Middle East war. The conflict was unleashed six weeks prior by US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
It remains unclear if the delegations will meet face-to-face or continue exchanging messages via Pakistan. The Iranian delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met Sharif, as did the US delegation, which included Vice President JD Vance, envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner.
Prime Minister Sharif expressed hope that the talks would pave the way for durable peace. "The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region," his office stated.
Key issues such as sanctions, Lebanon, and the opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz remain points of contention. Ghalibaf expressed distrust in negotiations with the Americans, citing past broken promises. Vance stated the US would negotiate in good faith but would not be receptive if "played".
President Trump has demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and prioritized ensuring Iran possesses "no nuclear weapon." Security was heightened in Islamabad for the sensitive negotiations.
