US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf have met separately with Pakistan’s prime minister in Islamabad. Sharif has said he hopes the talks will lead to a “durable peace.”
Senior US and Iranian officials convened in Islamabad on Saturday for high-stakes talks aimed at ending their conflict in the Middle East, which has claimed thousands of lives, disrupted energy markets, and seriously strained the global economy following six weeks of fighting.
DW has learned that the discussions are currently unfolding in two separate tracks —one between the Pakistani hosts and the United States, and another between Pakistan and Iran. The delegations may transition to a trilateral format if enough progress is made on their stated demands and conditions.
Officials in Islamabad say they are ready to facilitate both parties in any capacity required, although the ultimate decision on the structure and format of the talks will rest with Tehran and Washington.
The talks are weighed down by the continued fighting in Lebanon, even as positive signals from Islamabad suggest efforts are underway to address Tehran’s concerns on the issue. (DW)