Historic talks between the United States and Iran, with Pakistan as the central mediator, continued in Islamabad on Saturday, intending to achieve a peace agreement between the two countries that were recently warring with each other before a temporary two-week truce.

In a post on X, state broadcaster PTV News said: “Peace talks of historic significance between Iran and the United States have commenced in Islamabad, where for the first time after tensions, representatives from both sides are sitting directly at the same table.”

It said the arrival of high-level delegations, Pakistan’s effective diplomacy and positive statements from global leaders had further strengthened hopes for a ceasefire and lasting peace in the region, adding that “the eyes of the world are focused on the outcomes of these crucial negotiations.”

Iran’s Press TV released a picture of the Iranian negotiating team during the talks

Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian said the country’s delegation was the “staunch guardian of Iran’s interests with all its might, and in this vein, it will engage in negotiations with courage.

“In any case, our service to the people will not pause for a moment, and whatever the outcome of the negotiations may be, the government stands firmly by the people’s side.”

On the event’s sidelines, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Iranian Central Bank Governor Dr Abdolnasser Hemmati.

Both sides emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue and noted that peace and stability in the region remained essential for economic cooperation and shared progress.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue its mediatory role in a meeting with the Iranian delegation.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Iranian delegation was led by Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf and assisted by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whil FM Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attended the meeting from the Pakistani side.

“Appreciating Iran’s engagement in the ‘Islamabad Talks,’ the prime minister affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability,” the statement said.

PM Shehbaz also met US Vice President JD Vance, along with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

According to PMO, the prime minister was assisted by FM Dar and Naqvi.

“Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the prime minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” read the statement.

PM Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan looked forward to continuing its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region, it added.

Vance landed in Islamabad as part of a US delegation to discuss a US-Iran ceasefire dubbed the ‘Islamabad Talks 2026’, the Foreign Office said in a statement earlier.

The US delegation was received by FM Dar, CDF Munir, and Naqvi upon arrival. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker was also present to receive the vice president.

Welcoming Vance, FM Dar commended the US commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability. He “expressed hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching lasting and durable solution to the conflict”, the statement read.

Vance departed for Pakistan a day earlier to attend the ‘Islamabad Talks’. and said that America was looking forward to the negotiation with Iran and expressed hope that it would be positive.

“We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith and extend an open hand, that’s one thing. If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive. The president has given us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’ll see how it goes,” he had said.

Washington and Tehran’s negotiations are seeking to end the six-week-old Iran war that killed thousands of people across the Middle East, disrupted energy supplies, fed inflation and slowed the global economy.

The Iranian delegation arrived in Pakistan late on Friday night to attend the high-stakes negotiation talks with the US.

The FO said the “high-powered delegation” was led by Ghalibaf and was received by Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Naqvi, and CDF Munir. It added that Dar expressed the hope that the parties would “engage constructively” and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating them towards reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict.

Pakistan is hosting what could prove to be one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements in recent history, as senior leaders from the US and Iran arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes negotiations following a devastating six-week war that has left thousands dead and pushed the global economy to the brink of recession.

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Islamabad has effectively been placed under an unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the talks. Key routes have been sealed, security personnel heavily deployed, and surveillance heightened to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries. Officials say the negotiations will take place at a secure, undisclosed location, away from the media spotlight.

Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the region. Last month, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, which prompted Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East led to efforts by political and military leadership in Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.

To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Islamabad, with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The meeting grabbed the world’s attention and was widely appreciated for Pakistan’s efforts.

Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East.

Perilous ceasefire

A fragile, conditional ceasefire is in place between the US and Iran, agreed after weeks of intense conflict. The deal revolves around a two‑week pause in fighting, largely aimed at halting major military strikes and reopening strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz — although core disagreements remain unresolved. Both Washington and Tehran have declared the ceasefire a kind of victory, even as they stick to competing demands for a long‑term settlement.

At the centre of the truce is a 10‑point proposal from Iran, which the US has described as a “workable basis” for negotiation. The plan reportedly covers issues like non‑aggression, control and operation of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions, and cessation of hostilities on multiple fronts — including calls for an end to wars in related theatres. This framework is now set to guide peace talks, with Pakistan expected to host negotiations aimed at turning the temporary ceasefire into a more durable peace.