Islamabad takes centre stage, to host high-stakes US-Iran talks

• Negotiations follow Pakistan-brokered two-week truce • US vice president, Iranian foreign minister to lead their delegations • PM Shehbaz calls talks ‘historic moment’ for lasting settlement • Iran warns of withdrawal from ceasefire if violations continue • US says truce excludes Lebanon, but Iran disagrees • Iran’s speaker says key clauses already violated before talks ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to host in-person talks between the United States and Iran starting Friday, even as a fragile ceasefire between the two sides showed signs of strain following Israeli strikes in Lebanon and renewed military exchanges across the Gulf. The negotiations follow a two-week ceasefire announced late Tuesday — the 39th day of the war — after Pakistani mediation. The truce, which averted imminent US strikes, was based on a 10-point Iranian proposal accepted by Washington as a general framework for talks. Delegations are expected to arrive in Islamabad on Friday, with formal negotiations scheduled for Saturday. Sources told Dawn that a 30-member advance US team has already arrived in Islamabad to review security arrangements. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking at a federal cabinet meeting, confirmed that US and Iranian delegations would be visiting Islamabad for talks. He earlier said the Islamabad meeting was to “further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes”. He also spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and later described the conversation as “warm and substantive”, adding that he praised the Iranian leadership for showing “wisdom and sagacity” in accepting Pakistan’s offer to host peace talks in Islamabad. The US delegation, according to the White House, will be led by Vice President JD Vance, signalling a high level of political investment, while the Iranian side will be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliamentary Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf. Other senior US figures include envoys Steve Witkoff...