Vance arrives in Pakistan as US and Iran near peace talks
Photo: US Vice President JD Vance (Getty Images)
Talks between US and Iranian delegations began in Pakistan's capital on April 11. The American side is led by Vice President JD Vance, who arrived in Islamabad together with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, according to Bloomberg.
Ahead of the trip, Vance said he had received "clear instructions" from Donald Trump regarding the negotiations. He urged Iran to "take the dialogue seriously" and warned Tehran against attempts at "deception."
According to Iranian media, Iran is represented by a 71-member delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. It also includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati.
"We have goodwill, but we do not have trust," Ghalibaf said upon arrival in Islamabad. "In the upcoming negotiations, if the American side is prepared for a genuine agreement and to grant the rights of the Iranian nation, they will see readiness for an agreement from us as well."
Key topics of the talks include Iran's nuclear program, missile development, US sanctions, and military presence in the Middle East. The situation with maritime logistics and regional security will also be discussed, which remains unstable despite a temporary truce.
The talks between the US and Iran are taking place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump on the night of April 8. At the time, he declared a two-week pause in hostilities, during which the sides are expected to try to reach a final agreement to resolve the conflict.
At the same time, Trump said that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open regardless of Iran’s actions and stressed that Iran's nuclear program remains the key issue in future agreements.
