Islamabad: Attention is fixed on Pakistan this weekend as senior officials from the United States and Iran meet for critical negotiations that could shape both Middle East stability and global economic trends.
The talks, set to begin Saturday in Islamabad, come under the shadow of a tenuous two-week ceasefire that enabled diplomatic engagement but remains vulnerable to collapse. Continued Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah and disagreements over whether Lebanon is covered under the truce have injected fresh uncertainty into the process.
According to the White House, the first round of discussions will take place Saturday morning local time.
The US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. Speaking ahead of departure, Vance struck an optimistic tone, saying he expects “a positive” round of negotiations.
Iran will be represented by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
While details remain closely guarded, the administration of President Donald Trump is believed to have drafted a 15-point proposal. The framework reportedly calls on Iran to abandon nuclear weapons ambitions, relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, accept constraints on its military capabilities, and ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil shipments.
However, a key sticking point remains unresolved: whether Lebanon is included in the ceasefire terms.
Tehran, backed by Islamabad’s mediation efforts, maintains that any truce must extend to Hezbollah, its ally in Lebanon. The United States and Israel dispute that interpretation, arguing that Lebanon falls outside the agreement’s scope.
The disagreement has already cast a shadow over the talks. Ghalibaf said negotiations cannot proceed unless there is clarity on a Lebanon ceasefire and the release of Iranian funds frozen abroad.
Meanwhile, US officials have issued fresh warnings over maritime security. Vance cautioned Thursday that failure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could derail the ceasefire, while Trump warned Tehran against imposing transit fees on commercial vessels passing through the critical route.
With geopolitical tensions high and economic stakes even higher, the outcome of the Islamabad talks could prove pivotal far beyond the region.
