Despite the air of mistrust, Pakistani officials hope that if the talks yield progress, they could continue into Sunday and Monday.
High-level Iranian and US delegations have arrived in Islamabad for what the Pakistani prime minister has called a “make-or-break moment” in efforts to turn a fragile ceasefire into a broader agreement.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is leading the Iranian side; US Vice President J.D. Vance heads the American team.
Iran has arrived with a message of deep mistrust. Ghalibaf said Tehran has goodwill despite the US attacking Iran “twice within less than a year” in the middle of negotiations.
Vance struck a similar tone, saying earlier that he expects productive talks while warning Iran not to “play” the US.
US President Donald Trump has projected confidence and threat in equal measure, saying the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened “with or without” Iran’s cooperation, as he reportedly prepares military options in case the talks collapse.
“We don’t need a back-up plan… we’ve hit them hard, our military is amazing,” Trump told journalists after wishing Vance good luck.
Trump has summed up what a good deal with Iran looks like, saying: “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99% of it,” while adding that the Strait of Hormuz “will open automatically.”
Iran’s team reflects how broadly Tehran is framing the negotiations, reaching far beyond a narrow nuclear discussion. Alongside Ghalibaf are Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is heading the political track; Abdolnaser Hemmati, leading the economic side; Ali Akbar Ahmadian, overseeing the military file; and Esmaeil Baqaei, handling legal matters.
The US side appears narrower, with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also expected in Islamabad, although public reporting has offered few confirmed details about the delegation’s composition.
The Iranian delegation is due to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday morning. Indirect negotiations would reportedly begin later in the day if Israeli attacks on Lebanon stop.
Israeli strikes have reportedly killed at least 1,953 people in Lebanon since 2 March, including more than 300 killed in Wednesday’s bombardment after the ceasefire was announced.
The USA says that two US destroyers (USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy) have passed through Strait of Hormuz while mine-clearing has allegedly begun https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/us-confirms-destroyers-passed-through-strait-of-hormuz-as-it-works-to-de-mine-the-key-waterway/
https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4457220/us-forces-start-mine-clearance-mission-in-strait-of-hormuz/
The Iran government denied these claims and said that the US warships turned back https://www.chosun.com/english/world-en/2026/04/12/L7QDSZHN3JDRLJL32ZEBBLREQI/
https://wanaen.com/u-s-destroyer-turns-back-following-firm-warning-from-iran/
Any alleged “talking” in Islamabad appears silent about this obvious confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz
The talks reach the 3rd round even after US tried to sabotage these talks by violating the ceasefire via their attempted transit by US destroyers through the Strait of Hormuz https://wanaen.com/special-report-from-islamabad-iran-u-s-talks-approach-third-round/
Feel sorry for the Iranians, having to deal with the Fourth Reich…..I see Stump can’t keep his vacuous trap shut, which is no doubt, not helping……..
Mainstream media puppet Marc Thiessen from Washington Post supports murder of Iranian negotiators https://x.com/i/trending/2042941148755562635
Incitement of terrorism in Washington Post’s 9th paragraph of https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/08/ceasefire-deal-iran-us-israel-war-trump/
which says:
“Fourth, carry out a final barrage of leadership strikes, eliminating the Iranian officials who had been spared for the purpose of negotiations. Iran’s leaders must be made to understand that their lives literally depend on reaching a negotiated settlement to Trump’s liking. If they refuse to do so, they will be killed”
Stupid move Iran, you should have kept the foot on the throat, not give the US and Israel a opportunity to restock its weapons. Trump can’t be trusted, neither can those negotiators he has sent.
Should have dished up some of their medicine and bombed the building with Witkoff and Kushner in it.
This had to happen sooner or later. The alternative could have seen the US/Israeli irrational psycho’s use low yield nuclear weapons, which could draw nuclear armed Pakistan into the war and then the whole region could have become uninhabitable leading to an energy and food apocalypse. Even as it stands, its estimated it will take 5 years for the global economy to recover.