U.S. Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Islamabad and begun high-stakes diplomatic talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Iran, marking the most significant direct engagement between the two countries in decades.
Vance met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shortly after landing, as Pakistani officials positioned themselves as key mediators between Washington and Tehran. Iranian negotiators have also held separate talks with Sharif ahead of expected negotiations with the U.S. delegation, The Guardian reported.
The talks, the first of their kind at this level since the 1979 Iranian revolution, are focused on stabilizing a fragile ceasefire and potentially laying the groundwork for a broader agreement, as per Al Jazeera.
U.S. officials have framed the meetings as an opportunity to test whether Iran is willing to negotiate in good faith. Before departing, Vance warned Tehran not to "play" the United States, signaling a cautious approach from Washington.
The negotiations come after weeks of escalating violence across the region and a tenuous truce brokered with Pakistan's help. Key sticking points include Iran's nuclear program, sanctions relief, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and broader regional security issues.
Despite both sides being in Islamabad, it remains unclear whether direct face-to-face talks will take place immediately, with early meetings expected to be mediated by Pakistani officials, said a New York Post report.
U.S. officials have tempered expectations, with uncertainty over whether the talks will produce concrete progress or serve as an initial step toward longer-term negotiations.
