The US delegation led by JD Vance is ready to arrive, official confirmation from Iran is still awaited, efforts are being made to ensure
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad will host the second round of high-stakes talks between Iran and the United States after the White House announced on Sunday that a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance will travel to Pakistan this week.
Vance will be accompanied by President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
A week ago, Iranian and American officials held marathon 21-hour negotiations that ended with no progress. However, between the last round and the next session, significant work appears to have been done behind the scenes, raising cautious hopes for progress.
The development has once again placed Pakistan at the center of a delicate diplomatic effort aimed at easing tensions in the Gulf, although uncertainty remains over Iran’s involvement and the fate of a temporary ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday.
While Washington has confirmed its delegation, Tehran has not yet officially endorsed the process. Iran’s state news agency IRNA dismissed reports of its involvement, calling them “incorrect” and accusing the United States of making “unnecessary and excessive demands” while frequently changing its stance.
The Iranian side has also cited continued US sanctions, the naval blockade of Iranian ports and what it described as “threatening rhetoric” as major obstacles to meaningful negotiations.
In a statement shared on Telegram, IRNA said that in such circumstances, the prospects for a constructive dialogue do not look promising.
Adding to the ambiguity, media outlets affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard have also expressed doubts about Tehran sending a delegation, although sources suggest Iranian officials could still arrive in Islamabad as soon as Tuesday.
The diplomatic uncertainty occurs in the context of a new escalation at sea.
President Trump claimed that US naval forces had fired on and captured an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to circumvent a US-imposed blockade in the Gulf of Oman, marking a significant rise in tensions related to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global waterway.
Despite rising tensions, Washington has signaled that talks will continue. In a statement on Sunday, Trump confirmed the visit of his representatives to Islamabad.
“My representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan, and will be there tomorrow afternoon to negotiate,” he said.
Referring to recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump alleged that Iran had violated the ceasefire by opening fire, claiming that some shots were aimed at a French ship and a British cargo ship.
He also criticized Iran’s alleged move to close the Strait, calling it “bizarre” and arguing that an existing blockade had already effectively closed the route.
“They are helping us without knowing it, and they are the ones who lose with the passage closed, $500 million a day. The United States loses nothing,” Trump said, adding that several ships are now being redirected to American ports.
In a stark warning, the US president said Washington was offering Tehran a “very fair and reasonable deal” but warned that failure to accept it could trigger serious consequences.
“We are offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they accept it because if they don’t, the United States will destroy every single power plant and every bridge in Iran,” he said.
He added that it would be “an honor for him to do what needs to be done,” and concluded: “It is time for Iran’s murder machine to end.”
Diplomatic sources say Pakistan has stepped up efforts to ensure both sides remain engaged, positioning itself as an “honest broker” and trusted intermediary.
People familiar with the process suggest that while public rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran has toughened, much of it is aimed at domestic audiences rather than reflecting the actual state of negotiations.
“The process is ongoing and, by most accounts, moving in a positive direction,” one source said, warning, however, that key contentious issues remain unresolved and will require further deliberations.
Meanwhile, Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been put on high alert ahead of the expected arrival of foreign delegations. Advance teams have already begun landing, triggering an extensive security operation in the twin cities.
Authorities have deployed more than 18,000 security personnel in Islamabad, and an additional 7,000 reinforcements have been brought in from Punjab. Police, rangers and Border Corps units have been mobilized, while the Red Zone has been sealed and multiple security checkpoints have been set up around key areas, including designated hotels for VVIP guests.
Despite increased security and mixed signals from Tehran, diplomatic experts remain cautiously optimistic. They believe both sides maintain a genuine intention to reach a negotiated settlement, even as spoilers attempt to derail the process.
As Islamabad prepares to host what could prove to be a decisive round, expectations remain measured as a final deal will depend on whether Washington and Tehran can bridge their differences.
