JD Vance to lead US delegation to Islamabad for Iran talks on Saturday
Iran’s delegation is expected to be led by parliament speaker Bawer Qalibaf with FM Abbas Aragchi
The United States, under President Donald Trump, is sending a delegation to Pakistan to begin negotiations with Iran. The team will be led by Vice President JD Vance, with the first round of talks scheduled for Saturday, according to the White House.
Iran’s delegation is expected to be headed by parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, especially as several senior Iranian leaders have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, discussions are continuing between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about potentially including Lebanon in a broader Iran ceasefire agreement. A White House spokesperson said talks involving the United States, Israel, and other parties are ongoing.
The announcement of negotiations followed initial relief over a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. However, tensions remain high as fighting continues across the region. Israel has intensified its military operations in Lebanon, launching some of its largest strikes yet, while Iran has targeted oil facilities in Gulf countries.
Global financial markets responded positively after Trump announced the ceasefire late Tuesday, just before a deadline he had set for Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices, which had surged during the conflict, dropped significantly, and U.S. stock markets rose to near one-month highs.
Despite the pause in direct conflict between the U.S. and Iran, Israel has escalated its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Heavy airstrikes caused major destruction in Beirut, with large plumes of smoke seen rising over the city.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the ceasefire does not apply to Hezbollah and confirmed that Israeli strikes will continue. He added that while Israel has achieved several objectives in its conflict with Iran, more goals remain, which could be met either through diplomacy or renewed military action.
An Iranian source warned that Iran could abandon the ceasefire if attacks on Lebanon persist.
According to Lebanon’s civil defence authorities, Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed at least 254 people across the country, including 91 in Beirut alone. Some residents reported that certain attacks occurred without prior evacuation warnings.
Although uncertainty around the ceasefire remains, oil prices dropped by about 14% to $95.20 per barrel, while global markets rallied in response to hopes of de-escalation.