Peace talks between Iran and the United States began in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon, bringing senior negotiators from both countries together face to face at the highest level for the first time since 1979. The discussions took place in the presence of mediators from Pakistan, which is seeking to help broker a peace deal.
JD Vance led the American delegation, while Iran’s team was headed by Iran’s parliamentary speaker. The meeting marked a rare direct diplomatic encounter between the two sides after decades without such high-level engagement.
According to Pakistani state TV, the US and Iranian officials were “sitting directly at the same table.” That account was later confirmed by the White House. The talks were said to have begun in a positive atmosphere, even as fighting continued in Lebanon.
The meeting in Islamabad underscores the diplomatic role Pakistan is trying to play in efforts to reduce tensions and encourage a settlement. With both delegations in the same room, the talks represented a notable shift in the level of contact between Washington and Tehran.
Further details of the discussions were not immediately available, but the opening session was described as constructive. The presence of Pakistani mediators highlighted the host country’s efforts to support dialogue between the two rivals at a moment of broader regional strain.
The talks come against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Lebanon, which remains a source of instability in the region. Even so, the initial tone of the Islamabad meeting suggested a willingness to continue the diplomatic process.
For both sides, the fact that the delegations met directly was significant in itself. It was the first such high-level face-to-face engagement since 1979, making the Islamabad talks an important development in the long-running relationship between Iran and the United States.
