Peace talks between the United States and Iran began in Islamabad this afternoon, marking the first face-to-face meeting at such a high level since 1979. The discussions, mediated by Pakistan, involve senior negotiators from both sides sitting directly at the same table, according to Pakistani state TV and confirmed by the White House.
The US delegation is led by Vice-President JD Vance, while Iran’s team is headed by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, who helped broker a ceasefire earlier this week, is also present. The first round of talks lasted about two hours, followed by technical discussions focusing on security, finance, and the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, Iranian negotiators demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon, reparations, and the unfreezing of assets as part of any deal. However, Vance warned that the US would not be manipulated by a weakened Tehran, stating, “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”
The talks come amid ongoing conflict in Lebanon, where Israel has bombed Hezbollah targets and clashed with fighters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the joint US-Israeli campaign had crushed Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes, while also noting that Lebanon had approached Israel for potential peace talks.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said it had begun clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz to establish safe passage for maritime commerce. Iran has denied US claims of control over the strait and warned that any US warship crossing would be attacked within 30 minutes.
