Pakistan Hosts High-Stakes US-Iran Talks as Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance

Islamabad prepares to host weekend talks between the United States and Iran, mediated by Pakistan, as part of a two-week ceasefire in a war that has drawn in regional powers and unsettled global energy markets. US Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation, joined by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Iran’s side is led by Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Araghchi. The talks, held at the Serena Hotel and potentially lasting up to 15 days, seek a settlement to the conflict and a broader arrangement over issues including Iran’s proposed 10-point plan and U.S. demands on enriched uranium. Lebanon and ongoing Israeli strikes loom as major obstacles, and deep mistrust suggests a quick breakthrough is unlikely, though Pakistan’s mediating role is central to any progress.