Islamabad: Senior officials from the United States and Iran have arrived in Islamabad for high-level talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
The negotiations are being seen as the most significant engagement between Washington and Tehran in nearly 50 years, with the objective of halting the six-week-long war and restoring peace in the region.
A US special aircraft carrying top officials landed in Islamabad earlier in the day. Pakistani sources said the delegation is participating in crucial peace negotiations with Iran.
The talks come amid escalating tensions that have led to thousands of deaths across the Middle East. The conflict has disrupted global energy supplies and contributed to rising inflation, slowing down the world economy.
The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance and includes President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
On the Iranian side, senior leadership has set preconditions for talks. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Washington must first fulfil earlier commitments, including restoring Iranian assets and ensuring a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Trump struck a tough tone on social media, stating that Iran holds a weak position and is disrupting global maritime routes.
Security has been tightened in Islamabad, with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling the situation a “do or die” moment.
Despite Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire, tensions persist, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing Israel-Hezbollah clashes in Lebanon, which continue to impact global oil supply.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has also demanded compensation for war damages, while key US objectives, including curbing Iran’s nuclear capabilities, remain unresolved.
