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Iran Warns Deal Hinges on ‘America First’ as Islamabad Talks Enter Second Day
ISLAMABAD — Iran’s top negotiators have laid down a stark marker as high-stakes talks with the United States enter their second day: a deal is possible only if Washington’s envoys put American interests first, not those of Israel. The warning, delivered publicly by Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, captures the deep suspicion that continues to shadow the highest-level direct negotiations between the two nations in nearly five decades. “If we negotiate in Islamabad with repre
Islamabad Accords
4 min read
U.S. and Iranian Officials Meet Face-to-Face in the Presence of PM Shehbaz Sharif at Islamabad Talks
ISLAMABAD — American officials led by Vice President JD Vance met directly with senior Iranian negotiators, including Baghir Ghalibaf, on Saturday afternoon, marking the highest-level face-to-face encounter between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The meeting, held in the presence of Pakistani mediators, comes after more than five weeks of war that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy markets. Image credits: Press TV The last time U.S. and Iran
Islamabad Accords
3 min read
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. Image credits: AFP Islamabad Talks Continue Amid Tight Security The US del
Islamabad Accords
3 min read
Iran’s Stakes in the US-Iran ceasefire: What We Know So Far
The ceasefire between the United States and Iran did not happen because either side suddenly trusted the other, but because both sides ran out of room to escalate without catastrophic cost. A mediator from outside the usual circle of conventional mediation hubs stepped in when traditional actors had already failed. Image credits: Alena Vavrdova To understand why this ceasefire matters, and whether it will hold, one must first see the war through Iranian eyes. Tehran does not
Islamabad Accords
4 min read
The Islamabad Accords: Framework, Preparations, and the Long View
The ceasefire between the United States and Iran enters its third day on April 11, when formal talks begin in Islamabad. What started as a two-week pause in hostilities is now a test of whether temporary restraint can become a permanent resolution. Image credits: AFP The Islamabad accords negotiations represent more than a bilateral meeting. They are a proving ground for a new model of conflict mediation, one where traditional Western capitals no longer hold a monopoly on th
Islamabad Accords
7 min read
Talks and Bombs: Israel's Contradictory Lebanon Policy Amidst US-Iran Ceasefire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that Israel would open direct negotiations with Lebanon. The goal, he said, is to disarm Hezbollah and establish peaceful relations between the two countries. The announcement came after President Donald Trump asked Netanyahu in a phone call to scale back Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Image credits: AFP / Getty Images Hours later, Netanyahu clarified that there is no ceasefire in Lebanon. Israeli warplanes continued to str
Islamabad Accords
5 min read
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