Iranian delegation led by speaker Ghalibaf lands in Islamabad, US VP Vance en route
Pakistan’s leaders welcome the Iranian delegation for talks with the United States in Islamabad on Friday evening. — SCREEN GRAB
ISLAMABAD:
As senior figures from the US and Iran are set to hold historic talks in Islamabad on Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the high-stakes talks as the “make or break moment” for peace.
Despite earlier uncertainty and competing claims over the ceasefire terms, the talks are continuing as planned amid an unprecedented security lockdown in the federal capital.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf landed in Pakistan late Friday evening, the Foreign Ministry said.
The delegation was received by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar along with Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the statement added.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that Ghalibaf is leading the delegation, which includes FM Araghchi, Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati and some members of parliament.
Addressing the nation in a televised address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the upcoming talks as a “make-or-break moment” for peace.
“I ask all of you to pray that these talks will be successful and that countless lives will be saved and that the world will see peace,” the prime minister said, stressing the gravity of the situation and Pakistan’s role as a mediator at a critical time.
Pakistan has been working behind the scenes for weeks to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
Officials familiar with the diplomatic efforts say Islamabad leveraged its ties to Washington as well as backchannel contacts with Tehran to create conditions conducive to dialogue.
In his speech, Shehbaz singled out Field Marshal Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for their role in easing tensions and facilitating engagement between the two adversaries.
He credited them with helping to “extinguish the flames of war,” a public acknowledgment of civil-military coordination in sensitive diplomatic initiatives.
The talks will formally begin on Saturday, when both delegations will arrive under tight security in Islamabad.
The capital has seen heightened security measures over the past 48 hours, with restricted movement in key areas and an increased presence of law enforcement personnel, reflecting the high-profile nature of the visit.
From the United States, Vice President JD Vance leads the delegation.
Speaking before heading to Pakistan, Vance struck a cautiously optimistic tone, saying Washington was open to dialogue if Iran showed sincerity.
“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend an open hand,” he told reporters, echoing a broader U.S. position that leaves the door open to diplomacy while maintaining pressure.
However, the messages from Washington have been far from uniform. President Donald Trump has coupled calls for talks with stark warnings of renewed military action if talks fail.
In an interview with a US media outlet, Trump said the US was prepared to escalate if necessary.
“We will find out in about 24 hours. We will know soon,” he said, adding that Washington had already begun preparations for a potential military response.
Trump also expressed skepticism about Iran’s intentions, suggesting that conflicting signals from Tehran cast doubt on the country’s willingness to compromise, particularly on the contentious issue of nuclear enrichment.
On the Iranian side, expectations are dampened by clear preconditions.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has publicly stated that negotiations cannot continue unless certain demands are met, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s frozen financial assets.
Diplomatic observers note that both sides appear to be hardening their positions in terms of tactics and public attitudes.
Nevertheless, analysts believe that even a tentative engagement would mark a significant breakthrough given the current level of hostility.
For Pakistan, hosting the talks represents both an opportunity and a challenge.
Islamabad has long sought to position itself as a credible mediator in regional and global conflicts, and the success of these negotiations could significantly improve its diplomatic standing.
At the same time, failure could reveal the limits of its influence and underscore the deep mistrust that continues to define the U.S.-Iran relationship.
Officials remain cautious and were unwilling to reveal any details. There has been an unprecedented level of secrecy surrounding the negotiations.
The prime minister, meanwhile, said in his speech that Pakistan would “make sure that these talks succeed by giving their best”, while acknowledging that the final outcome remains uncertain.
