Watch video: Pakistan foreign minister hopes US, Iran will engage constructively in peace talks
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that he hoped the United States and Iran would engage constructively in peace talks as the U.S. delegation landed in the Pakistani capital.
Dar also reiterated Islamabad's desire to continue facilitating the parties to reach a "lasting and durable solution to the conflict", according to a statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry.
Press Release - Arrival of the US delegation for Islamabad Talks:
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) April 11, 2026
A high-powered US delegation led by US Vice President H.E. J.D. Vance along with Special Envoy Mr. Steve Witkoff and Mr. Jared Kushner arrived in Islamabad today to participate in Islamabad Talks.
The US… pic.twitter.com/xNxI4ErvHP
US intelligence indicates China preparing weapons shipment to Iran: Report
U.S. intelligence indicates China is preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran within the next few weeks, CNN reported late on Friday, citing three people familiar with recent intelligence assessments.
US Vice President Vance arrives in Pakistan
US Vice President J D Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday to hold crucial peace talks with an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia. Vance was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army chief Asim Munir at the Nur Khan Air Base.
He was accompanied by the US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Before he departed for Pakistan, Vance said he was looking forward to the negotiation and hoped that it would be "positive". "As @POTUS said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance had said before boarding the plane.
The Iranian delegation, led by its Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived early on Saturday. The talks are taking place amid a two-week halt in the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began with the former launching attacks on the latter on February 28.
Earlier, expressing hope that the two sides would engage constructively, Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict in West Asia, according to the statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The upcoming negotiations are being closely watched globally, as their success or failure could have far-reaching implications for West Asia's security, global energy markets, and international diplomacy.
US envoys Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Pakistan’s Islamabad for talks with Iran: Pakistani source
U.S. envoys Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Pakistan’s Islamabad for talks with Iran: Pakistani source
US plane carrying team for talks with Iran lands in Islamabad, two Pakistani sources say
A U.S. government plane carrying top U.S. officials landed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday for peace talks with Iran, two Pakistani sources told Reuters.
Washington and Tehran are due to begin negotiations seeking to end the six-week-old Iran war that has killed thousands of people across the Middle East, disrupted energy supplies, fed inflation and slowed the global economy.
Israel and Lebanon will have direct negotiations
Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon were expected to begin Tuesday in the US capital, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's office said Friday. Beirut is keen to hold direct talks to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, but under a ceasefire similar to the one with Iran.
Israel's insistence that the ceasefire in Iran does not include a pause in its fighting with Hezbollah has threatened to sink the deal. The militant group joined the war in support of its backer, Iran.
The day the truce was announced, Israel pounded Beirut with airstrikes, killing more than 300 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. It was the deadliest day in the country since the war began Feb. 28.
Trump said Thursday he had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dial back the strikes.
Then on Friday, Israeli warplanes struck near a state security office in the southern town of Nabatieh, killing 13 officers, according to the Lebanese president's office. Israeli forces said they also hit about 10 rocket launchers in Lebanon that had fired toward northern Israel.
Strait of Hormuz remains a sticking point
Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent oil prices skyrocketing, driven stocks down and roiled the world economy. Tehran's control over the waterway has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war.
The spot price of Brent crude, the international standard, was around USD 97 Friday, up more than 30 per cent since the war started.
Before the conflict, over 100 ships passed through the strait each day, many carrying oil to Asia. With the ceasefire in place, only 12 have been recorded passing through.
Trump said Iran has little clout in the negotiations.
"The Iranians don't seem to realize they have no cards, other than a short term extortion of the World by using International Waterways," Trump posted Friday. "The only reason they are alive today is to negotiate!"
