US delegation led by JD Vance to arrive, official confirmation from Iran still awaited, efforts to secure
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad is set to host the second round of high-stakes talks between Iran and the United States after the White House announced on Sunday that a US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance will travel to Pakistan this week.
Vance will be accompanied by President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
A week ago, Iranian and US officials held marathon 21-hour talks that ended without a breakthrough. But between the last round and the upcoming session, considerable behind-the-scenes action appears to have taken place, prompting cautious hopes for progress.
The development has again placed Pakistan at the center of a sensitive diplomatic effort aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Gulf, although uncertainty remains over Iran’s participation and the fate of a temporary ceasefire that expires on Wednesday.
While Washington has confirmed its delegation, Tehran has yet to officially approve the process. Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA dismissed reports of its participation as “not correct” and accused the United States of making “unnecessary and excessive demands” while frequently changing its position.
The Iranian side has also cited continued US sanctions, the naval blockade of Iranian ports and what it described as “threatening rhetoric” as major obstacles to meaningful negotiations.
In a statement shared on Telegram, IRNA said the prospects for constructive dialogue under such circumstances did not appear promising.
Adding to the ambiguity, media affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard have also expressed doubts that Tehran will send a delegation, although sources suggest Iranian officials could still arrive in Islamabad as early as Tuesday.
The diplomatic uncertainty comes against the background of a new escalation at sea.
President Trump claimed that US naval forces had fired upon and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship attempting to circumvent a US-imposed blockade in the Gulf of Oman, marking a significant escalation in tensions linked to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical global waterway.
Despite the rising tensions, Washington has signaled that the talks will continue. In a statement on Sunday, Trump confirmed his representatives’ visit to Islamabad.
“My representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan, they will be there tomorrow night for talks,” he said.
Referring to recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump claimed that Iran had violated the ceasefire by opening fire and claimed that some shots were aimed at a French vessel and a British cargo ship.
He also criticized Iran’s reported move to close the strait, calling it “strange” and arguing that an existing blockade had already effectively closed the route.
“They are helping us without knowing it, and they are the ones losing with the closed passage, $500 million a day. The United States is losing nothing,” Trump said, adding that more ships were now diverted to American ports.
In a sharp warning, the US president said Washington offered Tehran a “very fair and reasonable deal” but warned that failure to accept it could trigger serious consequences.
“We are offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they take it, because if they don’t, the United States will knock out every power plant and every bridge in Iran,” he said.
He added that it would be his “honor to do what needs to be done,” and concluded, “It’s time for Iran’s killing machine to end.”
Diplomatic sources say Pakistan has stepped up backchannel efforts to ensure both sides remain engaged, positioning itself as an “honest broker” and a trusted intermediary.
People familiar with the process suggest that while the public rhetoric from both Washington and Tehran has hardened, much of it is aimed at domestic audiences rather than reflecting the actual state of the negotiations.
“The process is underway and, in most people’s view, it is moving in a positive direction,” said one source, who cautioned, however, that key contentious issues remain unresolved and will require further consideration.
Meanwhile, Islamabad and Rawalpindi have been put on high alert ahead of the expected arrival of foreign delegations. Advance teams have already begun to land, triggering an extensive security operation across the twin cities.
Authorities have deployed over 18,000 security personnel in Islamabad, with another 7,000 reinforcements brought in from Punjab. Police, Rangers and Frontier Corps units have been mobilized, while the red zone has been sealed and several security checkpoints established around key areas, including hotels designated for VVIP guests.
Despite the increased security and mixed signals from Tehran, diplomatic insiders remain cautiously optimistic. They believe both sides retain a genuine intent to reach a negotiated settlement, even as spoilers try to derail the process.
As Islamabad prepares to host what could prove to be a decisive round, expectations remain measured as a final deal will depend on whether Washington and Tehran can bridge their differences.
