Five things to know as US and Iran talks conclude in Islamabad

News Desk 

Islamabad: In a rare and tightly guarded diplomatic effort, the United States and Iran are holding their highest-level indirect talks in years in Islamabad, with Pakistan acting as mediator in a bid to transform a fragile ceasefire into a more durable peace framework after weeks of regional escalation.

The negotiations come at a critical moment following a two-week ceasefire, brokered with Pakistan’s facilitation, which is set to expire on April 22. The talks are widely seen as an attempt to prevent renewed conflict that has already disrupted global energy markets and heightened tensions across the Middle East.

Rather than a traditional summit, the Islamabad process is unfolding behind closed doors, with delegations seated in separate rooms while Pakistani officials shuttle messages between the two sides.

A War That Shook Energy Markets

The current diplomatic push follows weeks of intense conflict that began on February 28, when coordinated US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.

The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 2,000 people over five weeks, marking one of the most serious escalations in recent regional history.

In response, Tehran effectively disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global energy corridor through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas flows. The move sent global energy prices soaring and triggered widespread concern over supply chain stability.

A temporary ceasefire was reached on April 8, brokered with Pakistan’s involvement, opening a narrow diplomatic window for negotiations. Iranian authorities have indicated that talks may continue for up to 15 days within this framework.

Pakistan’s Emergence as a Diplomatic Bridge

While Pakistan is often viewed through the lens of internal security and economic challenges, its role in hosting the US-Iran talks marks a notable shift toward active mediation in global diplomacy.

Islamabad’s position is shaped by a rare combination of relationships. Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan after its independence in 1947, and the two share a 900-kilometre border along with deep historical and cultural ties.

At the same time, Pakistan maintains strategic relations with the United States, China, and Gulf partners, allowing it to function as a rare channel between competing blocs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has played a central role in facilitating dialogue, including recent diplomatic outreach to Beijing, which has expressed support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts. Washington has also acknowledged broader regional encouragement for negotiations.

Deep Divisions Remain on Core Issues

Despite the diplomatic momentum, major gaps persist between the two sides.

The United States has reportedly presented a wide-ranging framework addressing Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, ballistic missile program, sanctions relief, and the reopening of strategic shipping routes. Iran, meanwhile, has countered with its own proposals demanding control over key maritime routes, toll mechanisms for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, an end to regional military operations, and full sanctions relief.

The regional dimension further complicates negotiations. Lebanon has emerged as a key sticking point, with continued Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah positions despite the ceasefire arrangement. While Israeli leadership has rejected claims that Lebanon was included in the truce, US Vice President JD Vance suggested there may have been a “misunderstanding” over its scope.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that continued strikes undermine the purpose of the talks, stating that ongoing military action makes negotiations “meaningless.”

High-Level Delegations at the Table

The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner, marking one of the most senior levels of US engagement with Iran in years.

On the Iranian side, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to lead discussions. Ghalibaf, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reflects Tehran’s hardline security posture, though it remains unclear whether active IRGC officials are directly involved.

The format mirrors earlier Oman-mediated diplomatic rounds, with indirect communication remaining the preferred structure due to longstanding mistrust between the two sides.

A Locked-Down Capital

Islamabad itself has been transformed into a fortified diplomatic zone. Roads across the capital are under strict surveillance, with heavy deployment of security forces, checkpoints, and traffic restrictions. Even for a city accustomed to high-level visits, the atmosphere has been notably subdued.

Inside the negotiation rooms, however, the stakes are global. Energy security, regional stability, sanctions policy, and military escalation all sit on the table—while mediators attempt to narrow differences between two adversaries still far apart on core issues.

As the ceasefire clock ticks toward April 22, the Islamabad talks represent a narrow but significant window: one where diplomacy is being tested as urgently as the conflict that brought both sides to the table.