April 10, 2026
US Vice President JD Vance is travelling to Islamabad to lead high-level talks with Iranian officials as a fragile ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel shows signs of strain.
Vance will be joined by President Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner. Iran’s delegation is expected to include parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, though Tehran has offered mixed signals about participation and the final composition of its team. Pakistani officials say initial meetings between diplomatic experts are scheduled before lead negotiators meet, with talks possibly continuing into the weekend. The format is likely to be indirect, with Pakistani intermediaries shuttling proposals between separate rooms.
The ceasefire, brokered earlier this week, is under immediate pressure because of disagreement over whether it covers Israeli operations in Lebanon. Iran says Lebanon must be included; Israel and the US reject that interpretation. Despite the truce, Israel intensified strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon that reportedly killed more than 300 people in a single day, prompting international concern that the deal could unravel. Israel says it has targeted Hezbollah positions and launch sites used against northern Israel; Hezbollah says it has fired back.
Regional spillovers continued during the ceasefire period. Kuwait accused Iran of striking vital facilities, causing material damage but no reported injuries; Iran’s Revolutionary Guard denied launching attacks during ceasefire hours. Saudi Arabia’s SATORP refinery in Jubail — a joint venture involving Aramco and TotalEnergies that processes about 465,000 barrels per day — was shut after damage from recent Iranian strikes, reducing regional output. Gulf shipping and energy routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have been affected, raising fuel prices in importing countries such as Pakistan.
Several countries and international figures have weighed in. Spain urged Iran to negotiate in “good faith” and called on Tehran to halt missile and drone launches, while also sharply criticizing Israel’s actions in Lebanon as violations of international law. Germany and others have said they will re-engage diplomatically with Iran; Spain has moved to reopen its embassy in Tehran.
Pakistan has emerged as the mediator for practical and historical reasons: longstanding ties with Iran, a relationship with the United States, its strategic interest in regional energy security, and a track record of past mediations — from facilitating US-China contacts in the 1970s to hosting Afghan and Taliban-related talks. Islamabad has mobilized exceptional security measures for the talks: more than 10,000 security personnel, road closures, checkpoints, parts of the city effectively sealed off, a local holiday to reduce movement, and visa relaxations for delegates. Pakistani officials said the talks welcome journalists and international participants, though the precise venue has not been publicly confirmed.
Washington reportedly plans to host separate talks between Israel and Lebanon next week, an effort aimed at addressing the larger Lebanon front, where Israeli demands include Hezbollah disarmament. Lebanon has said it requires a truce before engaging in direct negotiations.
Other developments linked to the wider conflict include Ukraine’s disclosure that its military personnel helped shoot down Iranian “Shahed” drones used across the region, as Kyiv shares expertise on modern anti-drone defenses after years of experience against Russian attacks. This support has been offered to several Middle Eastern countries in exchange for diplomatic and material backing against Russia.
The IRGC has stated it had not launched strikes during ceasefire hours and expressed commitment to the truce, while Tehran has warned that negotiations are meaningless if Israel’s operations in Lebanon continue. US officials, including Vance, have cautioned Tehran against actions that would collapse the ceasefire. The situation remains volatile: repeated violations and differing interpretations of the truce’s scope mean the talks in Islamabad are being watched closely for any sign they can hold and pave the way to broader de-escalation.