JD Vance and Bagher Ghalibaf are likely to lead their respective delegations again
Pakistan has begun preparations for a likely second round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad to end a war that has crippled energy supplies and daily life in the wider Middle East region, two government sources familiar with the development said. Anatolia on Wednesday.
Pakistan took center stage when it brokered a 14-day ceasefire between the US and Iran, followed by high-level talks in Islamabad attended by senior delegations from the two countries. Although the talks did not produce the desired results, the ceasefire remains intact and speculation about a second round of talks continues to grow.
“Preparations started already yesterday (Tuesday), especially to ensure foolproof security arrangements,” the sources said.
President Donald Trump struck an optimistic tone on Tuesday about the prospects for the resumption of direct US-Iranian talks, saying they could restart in Pakistan within the next two days. However, the schedules are unlikely to stick.
“Something could happen in the next two days and we’re more likely to go there,” Trump said, referring to likely venues for talks with Iran and Pakistan.
However, sources in Islamabad said the long-awaited meeting is expected to begin at the end of this week or at the beginning of next week.
They added that the luxury hotel, which hosted the first round of the Islamabad Talks, “will again host the foreign guests”.
Pakistan hosted US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf-led delegations over the weekend for the highest-level direct talks between Washington and Tehran since 1979.
The Pakistani sources said Vance and Ghalibaf are likely to lead their delegations in the expected second round of talks.
The talks, called the Islamabad Talks, ended without a conclusion on Sunday.
Pakistani sources added the possibility of low-level talks between US and Iranian officials before “paving the way for the high-level meeting”.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are currently out of the country on their regional tour till Saturday.
“Therefore, the chances of a high-level meeting this week are unlikely,” a source said, referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East.
Pakistan hosted talks after securing a two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran on April 8, which remains in place.
The joint US-Israeli war with Iran left around 3,300 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced in Iran, while 13 US soldiers were killed and hundreds of others wounded in the 39-day war since February 28.
