ISLAMABAD — High-stakes negotiations involving the United States, Iran, and Pakistan entered extended sessions into early Sunday in Islamabad, as diplomats pushed to stabilize a fragile ceasefire while hostilities and tensions continued across the region.
The talks, which began Saturday, have already stretched for more than nine hours and proceeded through multiple rounds, reflecting both urgency and deep divisions between the parties. The meetings follow earlier indirect engagements and separate discussions with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Iranian state media said the trilateral talks moved forward after a reduction in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon and the fulfillment of key preconditions set by Tehran. Washington has yet to issue formal confirmation of the negotiations, although senior US officials are widely reported to be participating.
The American delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, while Iran’s team is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Officials say the discussions are focused on sustaining the ceasefire and exploring broader pathways toward de-escalation.
Diplomatic sources describe the talks as historically significant, marking rare direct engagement between Washington and Tehran after decades of strained relations. However, negotiators caution that no agreement has yet been reached, particularly on Iran’s key demands, which its officials continue to frame as non-negotiable.
Iran has reiterated elements of its earlier 10-point proposal, calling for a permanent end to hostilities, the lifting of economic sanctions, and guarantees for its regional allies, including a halt to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. The United States has countered with a 15-point framework that includes restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program and measures to ensure unimpeded access through the Strait of Hormuz.
The scope of the negotiations has expanded beyond ceasefire terms, now encompassing maritime security, nuclear issues, and the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, underscoring the complexity of the diplomatic effort.
Even as talks continue, military tensions remain high. Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon persisted on Saturday, with Lebanese state media reporting additional casualties. The continued violence has cast doubt on the durability of the ceasefire and complicated efforts to secure a lasting agreement.
Developments in the Strait of Hormuz have further heightened stakes. The United States has begun mine-clearing operations in the strategic waterway, a move aimed at restoring global shipping flows. Iran, however, has warned it would respond forcefully to any perceived military escalation in the area, raising concerns of a broader confrontation.
The wider conflict has caused significant casualties, with reports indicating at least 3,000 deaths in Iran, 1,953 in Lebanon, and 23 in Israel, along with additional fatalities in Gulf Arab states. It has also severely disrupted global energy markets and trade routes, with maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz still well below pre-conflict levels, although some oil tankers have recently resumed passage.
In Tehran, public sentiment remains mixed. Residents expressed cautious hope that the talks could lead to de-escalation, while others voiced skepticism, noting the extensive damage and economic hardship caused by weeks of sustained strikes.
US President Donald Trump, speaking ahead of the negotiations, said Iran was in a weakened negotiating position and warned against delays. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, part of the delegation in Islamabad, said Tehran was entering the talks with “deep distrust” and warned of retaliation if attacks resume.
Security in Islamabad remained tight throughout the negotiations, with major roads sealed and residents advised to stay indoors as authorities worked to secure the diplomatic process.
Parallel efforts are also underway, with separate Israel-Lebanon talks expected in Washington in the coming days. However, unresolved issues, including Hezbollah’s disarmament and continued Israeli operations, continue to threaten broader diplomatic progress.
As negotiations continue, officials say the outcome of the Islamabad talks will be critical in determining whether the current ceasefire can hold or if the region risks slipping back into wider conflict.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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