US-Iran Talks in Islamabad Extend to Another Round as Pakistan-Mediated Ceasefire Holds

High-level direct negotiations between the United States and Iran stretched late into Saturday night in Pakistan’s capital, with both delegations agreeing to an additional round of talks based on a Pakistani proposal, Iran’s government announced.

The discussions, widely seen as the highest-level face-to-face meetings between Washington and Tehran in decades, are being hosted at the Serena Hotel under Pakistani mediation. The goal is to strengthen a fragile two-week ceasefire and bring an end to a six-week conflict that has caused significant casualties and disrupted global energy supplies.

The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner. On the Iranian side, key figures include Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir have taken central roles in facilitating the process, including separate bilateral meetings before moving into direct and trilateral sessions.

Topics under discussion include potential sanctions relief, limits on uranium enrichment, secure access to the Strait of Hormuz, and regional de-escalation efforts involving Lebanon and Hezbollah, where tensions persist despite the truce. Pakistani officials have set a modest initial objective of simply sustaining dialogue amid deep mutual distrust.

The talks follow Pakistan’s last-minute diplomatic intervention that helped secure the current ceasefire. Delegations arrived earlier in the week, with heavy security deployed around the venue and parts of Islamabad placed under enhanced measures, including a public holiday in some areas to facilitate the high-stakes process.

Iran’s statement confirmed approval for the extended round, describing it as a step forward even as challenges remain over shipping lanes and other flashpoints. US officials, including Vance, have voiced cautious optimism for “positive” outcomes while cautioning against any attempts to undermine the negotiations.

No major breakthrough has been declared so far, but diplomats view the continuation of talks as a modest yet meaningful effort toward a more durable settlement.