The High-Stakes Ceasefire Islamabad Talks Between the US and Iran Enter Expert-Level Stage

The United States and Iran have opened direct negotiations in the Pakistani capital, with both sides moving into an expert-level phase of discussions that is aimed at ending a six-week war that has disrupted global energy markets and claimed thousands of lives. The landmark Islamabad Talks represent the most significant face-to-face diplomacy between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

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Islamabad Talks Continue Amid Tight Security

The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance and including special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential advisor Jared Kushner, arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning. Vance was greeted on the tarmac by Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, whom President Donald Trump has previously described as his "favorite field marshal," and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The Iranian delegation, comprising 71 members including negotiators, technical experts, media representatives, and security personnel, is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Sharif has described the talks as a "make or break" effort to permanently halt the fighting.

Expert-Level Phase Underway

The negotiations have moved into an expert-level phase, with members of specialized committees from both sides heading to the negotiation venue. This phase allows technical experts to address complex issues while senior officials oversee the broader diplomatic framework.

Initial reports suggested that Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), might join the delegation, but independent news agencies have confirmed he is not part of the US negotiating team for Islamabad Talks, contrary to earlier speculation.

Iran's Conditions and US Responses

Iran has reportedly set two key conditions for progress in the discussions. The first concerns the release of Iran's frozen assets held in several countries, which the US side has agreed to, according to Iranian state media IRIB. The second relates to the situation in Lebanon, where limited Israeli strikes continue despite a broader ceasefire. Iran does not accept claims that a full ceasefire has been established there, and the issue remains under active discussion.

Conflicting reports emerged Saturday on whether the U.S. agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Washington had agreed to release funds held in Qatar and other foreign banks, including $6 billion originally frozen in 2018. But a U.S. official swiftly denied the claim, calling it false and noting that the talks had not even begun when the reports were published.

President Trump, posting on Truth Social as the talks commenced, took a firm stance on the critical waterway. "We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favor to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others," Trump wrote. He added that "empty Oil carrying ships from many Nations are all heading to the United States of America to LOAD UP with Oil."

The US President has also reiterated that the only reason Iranians "are alive today is to negotiate," warning that Tehran has "no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways."

Lebanon Remains a Sticking Point

Despite the ongoing talks in Islamabad, Israel’s strikes on Lebanon have not ceased. The days following the US-Iran ceasefire announcement have been the deadliest in Lebanon since September 2024, with at least 357 people killed on Wednesday alone, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Iran and Pakistan maintain that the two-week ceasefire applies to Lebanon, while the United States and Israel insist it does not. This fundamental disagreement has complicated the negotiations and threatens to undermine any potential agreement.

Broader Regional Developments

In a related development, Lebanese and Israeli diplomats have spoken via phone, and talks are underway for the two countries to meet at the US State Department in Washington on Tuesday to discuss a possible ceasefire, according to the office of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Outlook of Islamabad Talks

The Islamabad Talks are expected to continue for several days. The atmosphere is cautious, but the fact that both sides have engaged in direct, face-to-face negotiations after weeks of intense conflict is a significant diplomatic achievement. Whether a lasting agreement emerges depends on resolving the outstanding issues of frozen assets, Lebanon, and the Strait of Hormuz.