United States Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for pivotal negotiations with Iran, described by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a "make or break" effort to end weeks of intense Middle East conflict. The summit aims to secure a permanent ceasefire and address critical energy security concerns, specifically the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived overnight at an airbase near the capital and was received by Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, who reportedly maintains a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump. Munir also greeted Vance at the Nur Khan air base, where US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were already present to facilitate the dialogue.
Despite the high-level presence, significant diplomatic friction remains as both sides trade accusations of bad faith. Ghalibaf expressed deep suspicion shortly after landing, stating that while Iran has good intentions, it does not trust the American side due to a history of "failure and broken promises." Vance, dispatched by Trump to lead the American delegation, offered a similarly cautious stance. Speaking before his departure from the United States, Vance said that the US is willing to "extend the open hand" if Iran negotiates in good faith, but he warned that the negotiating team would not be receptive if Iran attempted to "play" the administration.
A primary focus of the talks involves global energy markets and the stability of the Gulf region. Trump has demanded the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, as a condition for the current two-week ceasefire.
Although the strait has not yet returned to normal traffic, Trump vowed on Friday to ensure it opens soon with or without Iranian cooperation. Furthermore, the US administration has identified Iran's nuclear programme as the ultimate priority of these sessions, with Trump stating that ensuring the Islamic Republic has no nuclear weapon constitutes 99 per cent of the mission in Islamabad.
The ceasefire remains incredibly fragile due to continued violence in Lebanon, which complicates the path to a permanent agreement. On Wednesday, Israel conducted its heaviest bombardment since Hezbollah entered the conflict in early March, occurring less than 48 hours after the truce began.
While Iran and Pakistan insist the truce must cover Lebanon, Israel maintains that the current agreement does not apply to Hezbollah. Shehbaz Sharif, whose "down-to-the-wire" mediation brought the warring parties to the table, acknowledged that an even more difficult stage lies ahead in ending the hostilities that began following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February.
Islamabad is currently under heavy security, with a massive police and paramilitary presence around the "red zone" and the luxury hotels hosting the delegations. While it is unclear if Vance and Ghalibaf will meet face-to-face or utilise an indirect format, Pakistan has assembled a team of specialists to facilitate talks on navigation, nuclear policy, and regional security.
China is also playing a significant role as a potential guarantor of a lasting agreement, with Trump confirming that Beijing helped bring Tehran to the table. Regional players including Egypt and Turkey are also closely watching the negotiations, which represent the most significant diplomatic effort to date in resolving the current crisis.
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