- Shehbaz and Vance talk as negotiations begin.
- The American delegation includes Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
- Pakistan is committed to continued facilitation between the two sides.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday met US Vice President JD Vance as the Islamabad talks formally began, hoping that the negotiations would serve as a springboard towards lasting peace in the Middle East.
The US Vice President was accompanied by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, while the Prime Minister was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Senator Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister of Interior.
Welcoming the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the talks would serve as a springboard towards lasting peace in the region.
He reiterated that Pakistan looked forward to continuing to play its role in helping both sides move towards lasting peace.
The meeting comes shortly after a high-level US delegation led by Vice President Vance and including Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Islamabad earlier in the day to participate in the negotiations.
The talks follow a two-week ceasefire announced by President Trump after weeks of conflict that saw U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran.
Despite the pause, tensions remain high, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing hostilities involving Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Earlier, a high-ranking Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf also arrived in Islamabad ahead of the talks. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is expected to play a key role in the negotiations.
Ahead of the negotiations, Ghalibaf stressed that Washington must stick to its previous commitments, including easing restrictions on Iranian assets and securing a ceasefire in Lebanon, warning that progress would otherwise be difficult.
Vice President Vance expressed cautious optimism about the outcome, but warned that any attempt by Iran to undermine the process would draw a tough response.
The conflict, which began on February 28 following coordinated US-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian leaders and infrastructure, has left more than 2,000 people dead and widespread regional instability. Tehran responded with retaliatory operations, including disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and attacking Israeli and US targets in the region.
A ceasefire was finally announced on April 8, with Pakistan playing a central role in mediation. However, major disagreements persist. Washington proposed a 15-point framework focused on nuclear and ballistic issues, sanctions relief and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran presented a 10-point plan aimed at greater control over the waterway, transit fees and a comprehensive lifting of sanctions.
The international community has widely praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role, supporting its efforts to ease tensions and facilitate negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace.
What’s on the table?
As delegations from the United States and Iran sit down for crucial negotiations in Islamabad, broad but complex issues are expected to dominate the discussion, News reported.
The negotiations are structured around two competing proposals: a 10-point framework put forward by Iran and a 15-point plan put forward by the United States. Although both sides have expressed a willingness to engage, significant differences remain.
The Iranian nuclear program is at the heart of the negotiations. Washington is demanding firm guarantees that Tehran will not develop nuclear weapons, as well as strict limits on uranium enrichment and intrusive monitoring by the IAEA.
Iran, however, seeks recognition of its right to pursue peaceful nuclear activities, including enrichment, which it considers a matter of national sovereignty.
Economic sanctions are another central issue. Iran demands the immediate and complete lifting of all US and international sanctions, as well as the release of its frozen financial assets abroad.
The US position differs sharply, favoring a gradual easing of sanctions directly linked to Iran’s verifiable compliance with its nuclear and security commitments.
Control of and access to the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is also a major point of contention. Iran is seeking official recognition of its role as regulator of the passage, citing its geographic and economic importance.
The United States, for its part, insists on completely open and secure international shipping lanes, without restrictions, given the importance of the strait to global energy supplies.
Regional influence remains a sensitive subject. Washington is pushing for an end to Iran’s support for allied armed groups in the Middle East, while Iran is demanding a halt to military actions against those groups and a broader de-escalation of regional conflicts.
Iran has called for the withdrawal of US forces from the region and a formal guarantee of non-aggression. The United States has not indicated a desire to reduce its military footprint, citing its security commitments to its allies.
Another controversial issue concerns Iran’s ballistic missile program. The United States seeks to limit missile development and expand its defense capabilities, while Iran views these demands as an attack on its sovereign right of self-defense.
Tehran has also raised the issue of compensation for damages resulting from recent conflicts, while the United States is expected to push for accountability mechanisms in the face of attacks on its interests and those of its allies.
