The United States and Iran will hold their first face-to-face peace negotiations in Islamabad on Friday, following a two-week ceasefire announced Tuesday that paused a six-week conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed his government has invited delegations from both countries, with Vice President JD Vance expected to lead the U.S. team and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi representing Tehran.
The ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan with support from Turkey and Egypt, is explicitly contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping. Araghchi confirmed Tuesday that passage through the vital waterway would be coordinated with Iran's military. The agreement came less than two hours before President Trump's April 7 deadline expired, averting threatened U.S. strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure.
Latest developments on the ceasefire
Iran's Supreme National Security Council accepted the ceasefire terms after rejecting an earlier 45-day proposal just days earlier. Tehran views the agreement as validation of its 10-point peace plan, which reportedly includes demands for sanctions relief, withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, and reparations for infrastructure damage sustained during the conflict.
U.S. officials have confirmed the ceasefire and described Iran's proposal as providing a "workable basis" for negotiations, but have not explicitly endorsed all Iranian terms. White House envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner participated in backchannel negotiations leading to Tuesday's announcement. Trump had threatened to "rain hell on Tehran" if the Strait remained closed beyond his deadline.
The conflict began in late February 2026 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and has killed thousands across Iran and Lebanon. Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted Israeli cities including Haifa and U.S. military installations throughout the Gulf region. The Strait of Hormuz, which carries approximately 20% of global oil and natural gas supplies, became the central point of contention after Iran imposed restrictions on passage.
Members are reading: Why the contradictory interpretations of this ceasefire suggest it may collapse before substantive negotiations begin
First test of implementation
Military sources confirm ongoing missile and drone activity in the Gulf region even after the ceasefire announcement, though at reduced intensity. The Strait of Hormuz remains the immediate implementation test: Iran must demonstrate "full, immediate, and safe" reopening while Washington must accept Iranian coordination of passage—terms both sides interpret differently.
Pakistan's role as mediator reflects its successful positioning during earlier phases of the crisis, when Islamabad worked alongside Turkey and Egypt to bridge communication gaps. The choice of Islamabad as venue signals Pakistan's central role, though the city's distance from both Washington and Tehran may complicate rapid decision-making if talks hit obstacles. The two-week timeline creates artificial urgency that may prove either catalytic or counterproductive, depending on whether delegations arrive with authority to negotiate substantively or merely manage perceptions while deferring core issues.
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