US and Iran begin direct talks in Islamabad with Pakistan’s mediation

Islamabad: Direct negotiations between the United States and Iran for a permanent end to the ongoing conflict are underway at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, under Pakistan’s mediation and facilitation, where both countries are sitting face-to-face after a decade.

According to details, historic peace talks between Iran and the United States have officially begun in Islamabad, marking the first direct engagement between the two sides after years of heightened tensions.

Earlier, there was uncertainty regarding the nature of the talks after the ceasefire, with questions raised about whether discussions would be conducted through mediators or in a face-to-face format.

However, Pakistan Television (PTV) as well as Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed that the negotiations between the United States and Iran are taking place directly.

Meanwhile, Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that the talks have now entered the “expert phase,” with several members of Iranian technical committees present at the negotiation venue.

The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance and includes Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

The Iranian delegation is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials.

Experts believe that the arrival of high-level delegations, effective Pakistani diplomacy, and positive statements from global leadership have strengthened hopes for lasting peace in the region, while the world closely watches the outcome of these crucial talks.

It is worth noting that these Islamabad talks are being described as one of the most significant diplomatic developments between Iran and the United States since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Previously, in 2015 during the Obama administration, a historic agreement was reached on Iran’s nuclear program.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this was one of the rare occasions when representatives of both countries sat face-to-face. However, the agreement was unilaterally withdrawn by US President Donald Trump in 2018, after which sanctions on Iran were reimposed, leading to renewed tensions between the two countries.