Delegations from Iran and the United States reached Islamabad on Saturday to participate in high-level negotiations aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East conflict after the two states agreed to two-week truce mediated by Pakistan.
The Iranian delegation, led by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, laned in Islamabad early on Saturday. In a statement, the Foreign Office said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi received them.
Welcoming the delegation, Dar hoped for constructive engagement and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating dialogue towards a lasting and durable resolution.
On Saturday morning, the U.S. delegation led by Vice-President J.D. Vance also reached Islamabad. The American delegation includes special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Dar, the Army chief and the interior minister received them upon their arrival.
“Welcoming the U.S. vice-president, the foreign minister commended U.S. commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability,” read a statement issued by the Foreign Office. “[Dar] expressed the hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating the parties toward reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict,” it added.
Islamabad is on high-alert in light of the visiting delegations, while the government is facilitating journalists covering the talks with visa-on-arrival.
On Friday night, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the talks as a “make-or-break” opportunity to secure a permanent ceasefire. Key to concerns about achieving an end to the conflict are persisting disagreements between the rival sides. Both sides have accused each other of failing to fully implement the truce, with Iran pointing to Israeli strikes on Lebanon and the U.S. demanding the full reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane.
Ghalibaf has said Washington must honor commitments to unblock Iranian assets and enforce a ceasefire in Lebanon, warning that negotiations would not proceed otherwise. Vance, meanwhile, has said that he expects a positive outcome but warned Iran any attempt to “play” Washington will trigger a firm response.
The Middle East conflict began on Feb. 28 after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes that assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In the five weeks the conflict lasted, over 2,000 people were killed across the Middle East.