Islamabad/Washinton/Tehran: High-stakes peace talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled to be held in Islamabad, have fetched global attention—but uncertainty looms over who will actually sit for the negotiation.
US delegation confirmed
The US has clearly confirmed its participation in the talks. The delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance. He will be accompanied by senior officials including special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, forming a high-level team tasked with pushing for a durable ceasefire and agreement, according to HT.
Iran’s participation remains uncertain
In contrast, Iran’s attendance is still unclear and appears to be the biggest point of contention. Earlier reports suggested tha
t Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf could lead Tehran’s delegation.
However, Iranian authorities have pushed back against claims that a delegation has already arrived in Islamabad. Officials have indicated that Iran may skip the talks entirely unless certain preconditions are met—particularly a halt to ongoing attacks in Lebanon and full adherence to ceasefire commitments.
Who is not attending
Israel, a key stakeholder in the broader regional conflict, is not participating in the Islamabad meeting, underscoring the limited scope of the negotiations.
Pakistan is hosting the talks and playing a crucial mediating role, attempting to bridge deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran following weeks of conflict and a fragile ceasefire.
Islamabad turns fortress
Islamabad has been placed under an unprecedented security cover as Pakistan prepares to host high-stakes talks, reported HT. Authorities ramped up security across the capital on Thursday, with key roads sealed, traffic diverted, and sensitive zones locked down ahead of the arrival of foreign delegations expected later in the night, PTI reported.