World Watches as Stage Set for Crucial US–Iran Peace Talks in Pakistan

April 11, 2026 - The world is watching anxiously as senior delegations from both the United States and Iran have arrived in Islamabad to negotiate on a permanent peace settlement between them. The US team is led by Vice President JD Vance, while Iran is represented by the country’s Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The US delegate team also includes President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

This will be the first direct high-level talks between the two countries since 2015 and the most significant since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. Talks aim to turn a recent two-week ceasefire (starting April 8) into a permanent peace deal. The West Asia conflict, which lasted about six weeks, caused thousands of deaths and a global energy shock.

Pakistan is acting as a key mediator and host for the peace talks which is being held in the capital city of Islamabad under heavy security.

Negotiations are likely to be tense and uncertain, with several unresolved issues including the Lebanon conflict. Continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon threaten to derail negotiations. Iran insists the ceasefire must include Israel–Hezbollah fighting in Lebanon. Trump has warned of renewed military action if talks fail.

Iran's Ghalibaf says the Iranian delegates have come with "good intentions" but that they "do not trust" the US. On the other hand, Vance had warned the Americans will not be receptive if Iran will "try to play us"

Iran has already presented a 10-point peace plan. Its demands include lifting of US sanctions and unfreezing of Iranian assets. The Islamic Republic is also seeking control or toll rights over the Strait of Hormuz, which it has partially blocked disrupting global oil and shipping markets.

The US wants limits on Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes and is seeking the latter’s agreement on reducing or removing enriched uranium.

The talks are widely seen as “make-or-break” for avoiding renewed war in the region which has also pulled other Gulf nations, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain, into indirect conflict. 

Meanwhile, Lebanese officials say negotiators will meet with an Israeli delegation in Washington on Tuesday.

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