Web Desk: US Vice President JD Vance has reached Islamabad for historic US-Iran negotiations to be taken place in Islamabad. The where Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Asim Munir received the visitors.
The United States and Iran began a new round of high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad on Saturday, as Pakistan stepped in as a mediator in what Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described as a “difficult but decisive phase” toward a lasting ceasefire. The talks come against a backdrop of deep mistrust, after two previous attempts collapsed due to conflict.
Pakistan is facilitating the dialogue, aiming to bridge gaps between the two sides.
Iran’s delegation is led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. On the U.S. side, Vice President JD Vance is heading the delegation, alongside senior figures Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Analysts say the composition of both delegations signals a calibrated approach.
Vance, born in Ohio in 1984, rose from a modest background to become a prominent political figure. Although he initially opposed Donald Trump, he later aligned with him and gained influence within the Republican Party. His relatively measured tone on Iran has made him a more acceptable interlocutor, particularly at a time when other U.S. leaders have adopted harsher rhetoric.
Witkoff, a 68-year-old real estate investor and long-time associate of Trump, brings prior negotiation experience. He participated in earlier U.S.-Iran talks in Geneva, which failed, and also played a role in facilitating a Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange deal in Abu Dhabi. Observers describe his approach as direct and pragmatic.
Kushner, a former White House adviser and key architect of Trump’s 2016 campaign, is also part of the delegation. He played a central role in the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. However, his past involvement in unsuccessful Iran negotiations has tempered expectations regarding his role this time.
Qalibaf, 64, is considered a powerful figure with deep ties across Iran’s military and political institutions. A former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he later served as Tehran’s mayor for 12 years before becoming parliament speaker in 2020. His presence is seen as critical given his influence within Iran’s power structure.
Araghchi, a seasoned diplomat born in 1962, has long been involved in Iran’s nuclear negotiations. He played a key role in the 2015 nuclear deal and is widely regarded as a “soft-spoken but firm” negotiator in Western diplomatic circles. Since becoming foreign minister in 2024, he has emerged as a central figure in Iran’s international engagement.
Despite lingering distrust, the selection of delegates suggests both sides are approaching the talks with renewed seriousness. The United States has put forward a relatively moderate figure in Vance, while Iran has chosen a leader with strong institutional backing in Qalibaf.
Meanwhile, the inclusion of experienced negotiators such as Araghchi and Witkoff indicates a focus on practical outcomes. As discussions get underway, observers say the coming days will determine whether this effort can break the cycle of failed negotiations and move toward de-escalation.
Read more: Continuous diplomacy led to Iran-US breakthrough:Pakistani Ambassador
