ISLAMABAD: A high-level United States (US) delegation will “soon” travel to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for Iran talks, a US official familiar with the matter said on Monday, with Tehran saying it has no plans yet to participate in further talks with Washington.
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that a team of US negotiators was expected to arrive in Islamabad by Monday evening for a second round of talks on Iran. The White House separately confirmed to Arab News that the team will include Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who will hold talks regarding Iran on Tuesday.
“The US delegation plans to travel to Islamabad soon,” a US official, who requested anonymity, told Arab News on Monday evening.
The statement came as fears of a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran collapsing increased after Washington continued its blockade of Iranian ports and an American destroyer seized an Iranian ship that tried to evade it on Sunday.
Tehran warned it would retaliate.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Tehran is yet to decide whether it will participate in the next round of talks with the US.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday met the US and Iranian ambassadors to Islamabad, amid his government’s efforts to bring to officials of both countries to the table.
“Pakistan advocates for resolving the Iran-USA dispute through negotiations,” Naqvi was quoted as saying after his meeting with Iran’s Ambassador Dr. Reza Amiri Moghadam.
“The enduring solution to the conflict is the guarantor of the region’s stability and peace.”
Separately, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi over the phone on Monday.
“FM [Dar] emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and engagement at the earliest to resolve all pending issues in order to promote regional peace and stability,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said. “Both agreed to remain closely engaged.”
Meanwhile, stringent security measures were in place in Islamabad, with the city’s key arteries blocked and heavy deployment of law enforcement personnel in several parts, especially the Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and diplomatic missions. Authorities in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have also banned public and goods transport till further orders.
Vance led the US team in the first round of talks with Iran on Apr. 11 in Islamabad. The Iranian delegation was led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The two sides had intensive talks for over 20 hours but were unable to reach an agreement.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iran’s president to discuss the regional situation, and apprised Masoud Pezeshkian of his recent meeting with the leaders of Turkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
“I assured him that, with the support of friends and partners, Pakistan remains fully committed to its role as an honest and sincere facilitator of lasting peace and regional stability,” Sharif said on X.
