US-Iran Talks Begin in Islamabad for Lasting Peace

High-level negotiations between the United States and Iran began Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan, as the two nations sought to transform a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting peace agreement following more than a month of intense conflict that disrupted global energy supplies. The trilateral talks, mediated by Pakistani officials, marked the first direct high-level dialogue between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with delegations converging under a massive security operation that transformed the capital into a virtual fortress.

Vice President JD Vance led the U.S. team, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner. Iran's delegation was headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived late Friday after initial separate meetings with Pakistani mediators. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, supported by his interior and foreign ministers, facilitated the discussions, which proceeded behind closed doors with no press access. The sessions started with an exchange of written proposals, with further rounds expected later Saturday or Sunday.