Separate Meetings Held with US, Iranian Delegations Ahead of Ceasefire Talks in Islamabad

According to the White House, US Vice President JD Vance met with Prime Minister Sharif. He was accompanied by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

Earlier in the day, an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also held talks with Prime Minister Sharif.

However, no details of the discussions between Sharif and either delegation have been disclosed so far.

In a prior statement, Prime Minister Sharif expressed hope that the talks would serve as a significant step toward establishing lasting peace in the Middle East. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to extending all possible support to both sides.

This marks the first direct high-level meeting expected between Washington and Tehran since 1979.

Notably, on February 28, the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran. In the attacks, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed, and numerous military and civilian installations were damaged. More than 3,000 people have reportedly been killed in Iran over five weeks.

In response, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply is transported, triggering major volatility in global energy markets.

On April 8, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire mediated by Pakistan. The ceasefire is set to expire on April 22.