Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad for high-stakes US talks

A high-powered Iranian delegation arrived in Islamabad late Friday to participate in ceasefire talks with the United States, according to statements from Iranian state media and Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Iranian state television reported that the delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with other senior security and economic officials. The state broadcaster IRIB reiterated Tehran’s position that negotiations would begin only if Washington accepts Iran’s preconditions.

Earlier, Ghalibaf said a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets must be implemented before negotiations with the United States can start. In a post on X, he stated that these two measures were mutually agreed upon but had yet to be fulfilled.

Warm reception in Islamabad

In a press release, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the delegation’s arrival for what it described as the “Islamabad Talks.”

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The ministry said the Iranian delegation was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi.

According to the statement, Dar expressed hope that all parties would engage constructively and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating efforts toward a “lasting and durable solution” to the conflict.

Pakistan offers to facilitate negotiations

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier confirmed that leaders from both Iran and the United States would attend ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad following his invitation. In a televised address to the nation, Sharif said the talks were aimed at establishing peace.

“A temporary ceasefire has been announced, but now an even more difficult stage lies ahead: the stage of achieving a lasting ceasefire, of resolving complicated issues through negotiations,” Sharif said, describing the process as a “make or break” moment. He added that his government would “make every possible effort to make these talks successful.”

U.S. delegation led by Vice President

The United States delegation to the talks will be led by Vice President JD Vance, who departed Washington for Islamabad on Friday. Speaking to reporters before takeoff from Joint Base Andrews, Vance expressed cautious optimism about the negotiations.

“We’re going to try to have a positive negotiation,” Vance said. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand.” He added that if Iran attempts to “play” the United States, the negotiating team “is not that receptive.”

Preconditions for negotiations

Despite the diplomatic momentum, Tehran has maintained that negotiations depend on the fulfillment of its conditions. Iran insists that the existing two-week ceasefire must extend to Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting bombing raids against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Tehran has also called for the unblocking of its assets frozen abroad due to U.S. sanctions.

Pakistan is hosting the delegations as efforts continue to transform the temporary ceasefire into a permanent truce, positioning Islamabad as a venue for high-level diplomacy aimed at reducing regional tensions.