Direct talks between delegations from the United States and Iran have begun in Islamabad as part of the Islamabad Talks 2026, state-run PTV News reported.
The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance and includes Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, along with Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Iranian side is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials.
The talks are taking place during a two-week pause in the ongoing US‑Israeli attacks on Iran (2026), which began on February 28 and triggered widespread regional tensions and economic uncertainty. The hostilities were temporarily halted on April 8 following a ceasefire effort facilitated by Pakistan. 🕊️
Prior to the formal dialogue session, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with the Iranian and US delegations.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier welcomed Iran’s participation in the Islamabad Talks and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to playing a constructive mediation role to help advance efforts toward regional and global peace and stability.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz also met Vice President JD Vance and members of the US delegation as Islamabad continues its diplomatic engagement with both sides during the ceasefire window.
PM Shehbaz held a separate meeting with Vance, Witkoff and Kushner, who had arrived in Pakistan earlier in the day.
In a statement issued about the US delegation’s meeting, the PMO said, “Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the prime minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region.”
The statement added that the premier “reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region”.
