April 10, 2026
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is traveling to Islamabad to lead high-level discussions with Iranian officials as a fragile ceasefire involving Iran, the United States and Israel shows signs of strain. He will be accompanied by President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner. Iran’s side is expected to include parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, though Tehran has sent mixed signals and the final delegation list remains uncertain.
Pakistani officials say initial technical meetings between diplomatic teams are scheduled before principal negotiators convene, and talks could run into the weekend. The sessions are likely to be indirect: Pakistani intermediaries will shuttle proposals between separate rooms rather than hold a single joint meeting.
The ceasefire brokered earlier this week is under immediate pressure because of differing views on whether it covers Israeli operations in Lebanon. Tehran insists the truce must include Lebanon, while Israel and the United States reject that interpretation. Despite the ceasefire, Israel stepped up strikes in Beirut and southern Lebanon that reportedly killed more than 300 people in a single day, raising fears the deal could collapse. Israel says it targeted Hezbollah positions and launch sites used against northern Israel; Hezbollah reports it has returned fire.
There have been other regional spillovers during the ceasefire. Kuwait accused Iran of strikes on critical facilities that caused material damage but no casualties; 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 roughly 465,000 barrels per day, was forced to halt operations after damage from recent strikes, cutting regional output. Disruption to Gulf shipping and energy routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, has pushed fuel prices higher in importing countries such as Pakistan.
Several governments and international figures have weighed in. Spain urged Tehran to negotiate in good faith and to stop missile and drone launches, while also sharply criticizing Israel’s actions in Lebanon as violations of international law. Germany and other countries have signaled they will resume more active diplomatic engagement with Iran, and Spain has moved to reopen its embassy in Tehran.
Pakistan has emerged as a mediator for practical and historical reasons: sustained ties with Iran, working relations with the United States, concerns about regional energy security, and a track record of facilitating difficult talks in the past. Islamabad has deployed heavy security for the negotiations — 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 say journalists and international participants are welcome, but the precise venue has not been publicly disclosed.
Washington is also planning separate talks next week aimed at the Lebanon front, seeking to address Israeli demands that include disarming Hezbollah. Lebanon has said it needs a durable truce before entering direct negotiations.
In a related development, Ukraine disclosed that its forces helped shoot down Iranian Shahed drones used across the region and are sharing expertise on modern anti-drone defenses with Middle Eastern partners. Kyiv has offered such technical assistance to several countries in return for diplomatic and material backing against Russia.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has stated it did not launch strikes during ceasefire hours and said it remains committed to the truce. At the same time, Tehran warned that negotiations would be meaningless if Israeli operations in Lebanon continue. U.S. officials, including Vice President Vance, have urged Iran to avoid actions that would undermine the ceasefire. With continued violations and conflicting interpretations over the ceasefire’s scope, the Islamabad talks are being watched closely as a potential hinge point for broader de-escalation.