US and Iranian delegations met in Islamabad on Saturday, April 11th, mediated by Pakistan, to discuss de-escalation in the Middle East.
US-Iran Negotiations Underway in Islamabad
Delegations from the US and Iran convened in Islamabad on April 11th to discuss steps towards ending the conflict in the Middle East. The US delegation was led by Vice President J.D. Vance, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and US experts.
The Iranian delegation comprised 71 individuals, including negotiators, experts, media representatives, and security officials, headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Pakistan Mediates Talks
Pakistan is serving as a mediator, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif having previously met with both Iranian officials and Vance. Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar welcomed the guests and expressed hope for constructive cooperation and Pakistan’s continued assistance in reaching a “lasting solution.”
CNN: Differing Levels of Trust in US Negotiators
CNN reported a “high-ranking source” in Pakistan stating that J.D. Vance played a “key role” in initiating the Islamabad talks, with Pakistani officials hoping he would remain in the country to reach an agreement.
The source indicated limited trust in Steve Witkoff, who led previous negotiations before the US attack on Iran.
Negotiation Format: Direct and Indirect
Initially, it was unclear whether talks would be direct or mediated. CNN reported that direct negotiations would represent the “highest-level face-to-face talks between Iran and the United States since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.”
US officials and a regional source later informed CNN that negotiations were both indirect and direct, while Iranian sources initially claimed face-to-face discussions, later clarifying that discussions were occurring “through the exchange of messages with the help of Pakistani mediators.”
Talks Extend Into the Night
According to a Pakistani source cited by CNN, the US-Iran talks could continue until Sunday. Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that delegations had moved from preliminary discussions to detailed technical discussions, exchanging written proposals.
Tasnim reported that “Ira-American talks are continuing late into the night.”
