US, Iran search for breakthrough in Islamabad as talks stretch into third round

The direct talks between delegations from Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan, stretched into the third round on Sunday, as experts from both sides weighed into each other’s demands.

Earlier on Saturday night, teams of experts from Iran and the US exchanged written texts after an hours-long in-person discussion.

The Iranian government said in a post on X that the talks were held at the “expert-level stage as economic, military, legal, and nuclear committees joined”.

“Negotiations continue at the Serena Hotel to finalise technical details,” it had added.

The talks took place during a two-week ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran that began with US-Israeli attacks on February 28. The conflict, which spread across the Middle East and sent shockwaves through global economies, paused after Pakistan brokered a temporary ceasefire on April 8.

Delegations from the two countries had arrived in Islamabad for the negotiations.

The US delegation was led by US Vice President JD Vance, who was accompanied by US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

The Iranian delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and also included Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with other leaders.

In a post on X, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran’s delegation remained “fully committed” to safeguarding the country’s interests.

He expressed hope that the delegation would “negotiate courageously”. He added that regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, the government will “stand by its people”.