U.S.-Iran Talks in Islamabad Enter Written Exchange Phase

The highest-level direct talks between the United States and Iran since the 1979 revolution moved from general discussions to the exchange of written proposals in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The Talks

On April 11-12, at Islamabad's Serena Hotel, the first face-to-face U.S.-Iran negotiations in 47 years took place. The U.S. delegation was led by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Iran sent a 71-member delegation headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Pakistan's PM Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir served as mediators.

According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, the talks progressed beyond general topics into technical and detailed discussions, with both sides exchanging written drafts outlining positions and potential areas of compromise. Expert committees on economic, military, legal, and nuclear issues have been formed.

Sessions ran more than 14 hours, stretching into the early hours of Sunday morning. The format evolved from "proximity talks" (separate rooms with Pakistani intermediaries shuttling between them) to direct face-to-face negotiations. No final deal was reached; both sides confirmed talks would continue. The two-week ceasefire expires on April 22, a critical deadline.

Why Pakistan?

Pakistan occupies a unique position. It shares a 560-mile border with Iran. Iran was the first country to recognize Pakistan in 1947. Pakistan has over 20 million Shia Muslims. And Pakistan's close ties with China give it indirect leverage over Iran. Gulf states were considered too partisan. Switzerland was discussed but rejected by Iran.

Pakistan's mediation role has been compared to its role in arranging Kissinger's secret 1971 visit to Beijing, a small country facilitating contact between two powers that refuse to speak directly.

Iran's Red Lines

Iran's non-negotiable demands include: full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, payment of war reparations, unconditional release of frozen assets (~$7 billion), and a permanent ceasefire across all of Western Asia. The Hormuz issue remains the most contentious point.

Note on Tasnim: Tasnim News Agency is a semi-official outlet affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and was sanctioned by the EU in 2023. Its reporting reflects Iran's negotiating position and should not be treated as independent journalism.