Ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States, currently taking place in Islamabad, Pakistan, have extended into a second day on Sunday. Citing a White House official, US media reported that the face-to-face talks have been ongoing for more than 15 hours and are still continuing.
The Iranian government has also confirmed that discussions are progressing, although some differences remain unresolved.
The conflict began on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, triggering a war that not only destabilized the Middle East but also impacted the global economy. However, talks began after a two-week temporary ceasefire was implemented on April 8 with Pakistan’s mediation.
First Direct Talks in 47 Years
This marks the first time in 47 years—since the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution—that senior leaders from the two countries have engaged in direct, face-to-face negotiations.
The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
On the Iranian side, the delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials.
Key Agenda and Points of Dispute
Talks are being held at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, where technical details are being finalized. On Saturday night, expert teams from both sides held hours-long discussions and exchanged written proposals and draft agreements.
Specialized committees from both countries have been engaged in in-depth discussions covering security, political, military, economic, legal, and nuclear issues. However, agreement has yet to be reached on several key matters.
Major sticking points include Iran’s nuclear program, the lifting of sanctions, frozen Iranian assets, and Israeli military actions in Lebanon.
Iran has demanded an immediate halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. It has also warned that since US and Israeli decisions are closely linked, any failure of the talks would place responsibility not only on Israel but also on the United States.
Iranian President’s Position and Minab Incident
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a post on social media platform X, stated that the Iranian delegation is fully committed to safeguarding national interests. He expressed confidence that his team would negotiate boldly and assured that the government would stand by its people regardless of the outcome.
Meanwhile, upon arriving in Islamabad, Speaker Ghalibaf shared a poignant image showing a blood-stained school bag, shoes, and photos of four children placed on an airplane seat.
The image commemorated the February 28 attack on a primary school in the Iranian city of Minab, where 168 people, including children and teachers, were killed. Iran has blamed the United States and Israel for the attack, while the US has said it is investigating the incident.
Trump’s Warning
Ahead of the talks, US President Donald Trump warned that if a peace agreement is not reached, the United States would launch another major attack on Iran. Vice President Vance also expressed hope for positive outcomes but cautioned that Iran should not attempt to outmaneuver the US.
In a parallel diplomatic effort aimed at stabilizing the Middle East, separate ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to begin in the United States on April 14.
Following a brief pause on Sunday, the next round of Iran–US talks is expected to resume soon.
