An Iranian delegation is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday night, officials in Pakistan’s capital said, ahead of crucial peace talks with the US set for Saturday,
Bloomberg reports.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf will lead the delegation, one of the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.
US President Donald Trump is dispatching Vice President JD Vance, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad to meet with the Iranian officials. The talks are aimed at turning a fragile ceasefire, announced on Tuesday, into a lasting peace agreement.
The Iranian embassy in Islamabad didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Iran hasn’t officially confirmed its participation in the talks and the delegation, although Iranian state media has said Ghalibaf will lead the negotiations.
Prospects of a lasting peace agreement being achieved this weekend remain unclear given Israel’s continued bombardment in Lebanon against Iranian-backed Hezbollah targets. The US and Iran also remain far apart on their demands for a long-term ceasefire, with the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz a key sticking point.
