Photo: Reuters
Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan’s capital is witnessing heightened preparations ahead of high-stakes talks, with infrastructure spruced up and security significantly tightened as global attention turns to Islamabad.
Nearly six weeks after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered a conflict spanning multiple countries, Islamabad is set to host crucial negotiations between senior American and Iranian officials this weekend.
The talks follow a Pakistan-mediated two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, though the truce is already facing strain due to differing interpretations of its terms and Israel’s intensified military operations in Lebanon.
The conflict has unsettled global energy markets, particularly after Iran targeted regional actors and restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route, allowing passage only to countries that had reached agreements with it. This move contributed to a sharp rise in global energy prices, Al Jazeera reported.
Delegations from key stakeholders are expected to gather in Islamabad, located near the Margalla Hills, for discussions aimed at resolving the conflict. The negotiations were initiated after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally invited both sides to pursue dialogue.
The White House confirmed that formal discussions would begin on Saturday morning, while Iran’s Supreme National Security Council indicated that talks could extend up to 15 days, suggesting the possibility of prolonged engagement in Islamabad.
The venue for the talks will be the Serena Hotel in the capital’s Red Zone, which has been secured for the delegations. Authorities have declared public holidays in Islamabad during this period, excluding essential services, while security measures have been intensified, including sealing key areas and restricting entry points.
The US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by senior figures including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to lead the delegation.
Iran’s proposed 10-point peace framework reportedly includes demands such as oversight of the Strait of Hormuz, withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East, and a halt to operations against allied groups. While US President Donald Trump has described the proposal as workable, Washington has not formally accepted it.
The White House has instead maintained that Iran must give up its stockpile of enriched uranium, a condition it considers non-negotiable, though Tehran has not officially agreed to this.
A key point of contention remains the situation in Lebanon. Iran has warned that continued Israeli strikes could jeopardise the ceasefire, with Araghchi indicating that the US must decide between sustaining the truce or allowing the conflict to escalate through Israel’s actions.
He referenced Sharif’s position that the ceasefire should include a halt to violence across the region, including Lebanon.
However, Vance stated that the ceasefire terms did not extend to Lebanon, aligning with the stance of Trump and the White House.
Analysts have pointed to structural challenges in the talks, particularly Israel’s absence. Dania Thafer of the Gulf International Forum suggested that without Israel’s participation, any agreement could face limitations, as it remains a central party to the conflict and may not be bound by decisions made in its absence.