US-Iran direct talks hours away, first since strikes began 6 weeks ago

For the first time in six weeks, high-level US and Iranian delegations have convened in Islamabad, Pakistan, for direct peace talks aimed at ending ongoing hostilities. The US team, led by Vice-President J.D. Vance and including Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, faces an Iranian delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The primary objective is to solidify a fragile two-week ceasefire that has temporarily halted strikes.

Deep-seated mistrust and fundamental disagreements on nuclear policy and sanctions loom large, casting significant doubt on the talks' potential success. According to reports from Chinese state media, even the format of the negotiations remains undecided, with Pakistan preparing for both direct face-to-face discussions and indirect talks where officials would relay messages between separate rooms. Analysts suggest the best-case scenario would see these critical discussions lasting up to 14 days as both nations attempt to de-escalate a tense geopolitical standoff.