ISLAMABAD – United States Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, to lead high level ceasefire negotiations between Washington and Tehran, marking one of the most significant diplomatic engagements between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The talks, hosted in Islamabad, bring together senior officials from both the United States and Iran, with Pakistani authorities facilitating the discussions aimed at de escalating tensions and exploring possible ceasefire arrangements.
Vance, who was received in the Pakistani capital earlier on Friday, is expected to head the US delegation in discussions that touch on a wide range of regional security and geopolitical issues.
Before departing for Islamabad, the US Vice President said Washington was open to engagement if Iran showed willingness to negotiate.
“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend an open hand,” Vance said.
The Iranian delegation has also arrived in Islamabad, led by senior officials including parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The presence of top level representatives from both capitals signals the weight of the discussions, which come amid heightened tensions involving regional conflicts, sanctions and nuclear concerns.
Among the key issues expected to dominate the talks is the question of a ceasefire framework and broader regional stability. Iran is also expected to raise demands linked to sanctions relief, frozen assets, and economic restrictions that have affected its economy for years.
Tehran has also been pushing for discussions around regional security arrangements, including the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route, while Washington is expected to raise concerns over missile capabilities and nuclear activities.
Iran has indicated that it wants formal negotiations to be tied to commitments on ceasefire arrangements and sanctions relief, while the United States has signalled conditional openness depending on concessions from Tehran.
Indonesian authorities have welcomed the talks, describing them as a positive step toward keeping diplomatic channels open and urging all parties to pursue a sustainable solution and exercise restraint.
“This is an encouraging development that helps to keep the channels of communication open and creates space for diplomacy,” Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl said.
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