Islamabad, Pakistan - U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday to lead high-stakes negotiations with Iranian officials, aiming to transform a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement and end the month-long U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
The talks, hosted by Pakistan in its capital, mark the first direct high-level engagement between the two sides since the war erupted over six weeks ago. Vance heads the U.S. delegation, which includes Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The Iranian side is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Before departing Washington on Friday, Vance expressed cautious optimism. "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," he said. However, he issued a clear warning: "If they're going to try and play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive." He added that President Trump had provided "pretty clear guidelines" for the discussions.
The ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan earlier this week, halted direct U.S. and Iranian attacks in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz - a vital global oil chokepoint whose partial closure had driven oil prices sharply higher and disrupted energy supplies to Asia and beyond. Both sides have described the truce as "fragile," with ongoing disputes over its scope.
Iran has set preconditions for full negotiations, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon - where Israeli strikes against Hezbollah continue - and the release of blocked Iranian assets. Qalibaf stated these issues "must be fulfilled before negotiations begin." The U.S., however, has clarified that the original truce did not include a halt to fighting in Lebanon, describing any Iranian assumption otherwise as a misunderstanding.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the weekend talks as a "make-or-break" moment for shifting from a temporary pause to a durable settlement. Heavy security measures were in place in Islamabad, with roads sealed and residents urged to stay indoors as the delegations arrived.
President Trump has taken a tough public line, posting on social media that Iran has "no cards" left and is only engaging because it has no other choice. He has also pushed for Iran to permanently end any nuclear weapons ambitions and ensure unrestricted access through the Strait of Hormuz.
The broader conflict has strained the region, with continued exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon raising fears that the fighting could derail the U.S.-Iran track. Separate Israel-Lebanon negotiations are expected to begin in Washington next week.
Analysts view Vance's prominent role as significant, given his past skepticism of prolonged foreign entanglements. The outcome of these talks could determine whether the fragile truce holds or if the conflict reignites, with major implications for global energy markets, regional stability, and the Trump administration's foreign policy.
Updates from the negotiations in Islamabad are expected throughout the weekend.
