US and Iran hold talks in Islamabad amid mediation efforts

Kathmandu. Talks between the United States and Iran are taking place today in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The negotiations are being held under Pakistani mediation. Ahead of the talks, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the process as a 'difficult step' toward a permanent ceasefire.

An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad late Friday night. The delegation was welcomed at Nur Khan Airbase by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, who arrived in Islamabad on Saturday. President Donald Trump dispatched the three-member delegation for these discussions.

The delegation includes Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran has sent Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alongside Speaker Ghalibaf for the talks. Despite the commencement of negotiations, a significant lack of trust remains between the two nations.

The outcome of the talks remains uncertain. Iran and the US previously held two rounds of negotiations last year, but those efforts were interrupted by the outbreak of war. Currently, a two-week ceasefire is in effect between the US and Iran.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif stated on Friday night that Pakistan is making sincere efforts to ensure the success of the talks as a mediator. Tensions have been escalating in West Asia in recent weeks due to the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran.