Negotiations in Islamabad Towards Middle East Peace
On Saturday, a senior delegation from Iran and a U.S. team met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad to kick off discussions aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This war, notably ignited by attacks from the U.S. and Israel on Tehran about six weeks ago, has drawn significant international attention.
The meetings took place at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. Iranian media reported that the structure for future discussions remains unsettled, raising uncertainty about whether the parties would convene face-to-face again or rely on Pakistan to mediate their communications.
Both sides were present when an Iranian group headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Berger Ghalibaf met with Sharif, followed shortly after by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law.
In a statement from his office, Prime Minister Sharif expressed optimism that the talks could pave the way for lasting peace in the region, appreciating both teams for their constructive effort. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to fostering sustainable peace between the parties involved.
Iran has previously asserted that any agreement to bring a permanent halt to hostilities should include the unfreezing of assets tied up in sanctions and an end to Israel’s aggression against Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, Vance noted that these specific issues were not on the table during discussions in Islamabad.
It appeared that both parties remain quite distant on critical topics like sanctions, the situation in Lebanon, and the strategic opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Their mutual distrust was evident.
Ghalibaf, in an interview with Iranian state television upon arriving in Pakistan, remarked, “Our experience in negotiations with the United States has always been marked by failures and broken promises.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a member of the delegation, conveyed to his German counterpart that Iran approaches these negotiations with significant skepticism due to past betrayals by the U.S.
Before departing the U.S., Vice President Vance expressed a willingness to engage in good faith negotiations, but warned that if the Iranians play games, they would find the U.S. negotiating team less accommodating.
Iran and Pakistan both maintain that they are still protected by the current ceasefire, although this ceasefire has been under pressure due to ongoing hostilities in Lebanon, especially from Israel.
Prime Minister Sharif, whose diplomatic efforts have facilitated the talks, acknowledged that the path ahead is fraught with challenges. He deemed the situation a “make or break” moment, referring to the escalation that began with the U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran on February 28, which ignited retaliatory actions from Iran that affected the Gulf region.
President Trump has insisted on reopening the Strait of Hormuz as a precondition for a two-week ceasefire. Despite this, normal traffic through the strait remains disrupted, even as Trump pledged to resume passage soon, with or without Iranian agreement.
Vance underscored that a primary focus of the Islamabad discussions was ensuring that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, which he deemed a top priority.
Security measures were heightened in Islamabad, with law enforcement and paramilitary teams stationed around sensitive areas known as the “red zone,” where government and diplomatic sites are located.
Pakistan has established an expert team to facilitate dialogues on navigation, nuclear issues, and other significant matters, according to a diplomatic source. Additionally, regional powers like Egypt, Turkey, and China are closely watching the negotiations, while Pakistan continues its mediating role.
A resident from Tehran, expressing doubt over the negotiations, commented to a news agency that much of Trump’s rhetoric feels like “total noise and nonsense.”
