Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
High-stakes peace talks between Iran and the United States are set to take place in Islamabad, even as deep divisions over Lebanon and Tehran’s nuclear programme cast a shadow over the fragile ceasefire.
US Vice President JD Vance has departed for Pakistan, expressing optimism ahead of the negotiations. “We have clear guidelines on the talks, and I am looking forward to the discussions,” he said, signalling cautious hope for a breakthrough.
The talks come nearly six weeks after joint US–Israeli strikes on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a wider conflict that has claimed thousands of lives, disrupted global oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, and sent energy prices soaring.
The Iranian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, while Pakistani officials are expected to mediate between the two sides, who will reportedly remain in separate rooms during the negotiations.
A key sticking point remains the scope of the ceasefire. Iran insists that Israeli strikes on Lebanon must be included in any agreement, while the US and Israel maintain that the truce does not extend to operations against Hezbollah. Israel has intensified strikes in Lebanon this week, reportedly killing over 200 people, prompting Tehran to warn it may withdraw from the talks if the attacks continue.
Pakistan, which brokered the initial two-week ceasefire earlier this week, has deployed heavy security across Islamabad, with over 10,000 personnel on the ground ahead of the talks. However, authorities have yet to officially confirm the arrival of both delegations.
As global attention turns to Islamabad, the outcome of these negotiations is seen as crucial in determining whether the region moves towards de-escalation or slips back into a wider conflict.
