The United States and Iran sat down for direct negotiations in Islamabad on Saturday — the first face-to-face talks between the two governments since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The meeting came four days into a fragile ceasefire that paused six weeks of fighting.
Why it matters
These are the highest-level direct talks between Washington and Tehran in 47 years. Their outcome will determine whether a temporary ceasefire becomes a lasting peace — or whether war resumes when the two-week truce expires.
The delegations
Vice President JD Vance leads the American side, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Iran sent more than 70 officials led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.
Both delegations met separately with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before sitting down together. Sharif described the talks as a “make-or-break moment.”
The sticking points
Two issues dominate. First, the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has demanded it reopen “without limitation, including tolls.” Iran has signalled it intends to charge vessel owners for safe passage. The waterway remains effectively blocked, disrupting global energy supplies.
Second, Lebanon. Israel and the United States say Israeli military operations in Lebanon are separate from the Iran-US ceasefire. Iran and Pakistan insist they are included. Iran’s state television listed control of the Strait and a Lebanon truce as red lines.
What happens next
The two-week ceasefire expires on 21 April. If no broader agreement is reached in Islamabad, the terms allow either side to resume military operations. Vance warned Iran before boarding his plane: “Don’t try to play us.”