The United States and Iran are set to hold direct talks in Islamabad on Friday, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance leading the American delegation and Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf heading the Iranian side, according to Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency (ISNA). The negotiations come after a dramatic two-week ceasefire announced late Tuesday, which eased tensions and averted the risk of a broader conflict.

The talks are expected to cover a comprehensive agenda, with Iran presenting a structured 10-article proposal addressing its nuclear program, regional security, and the extensive primary and secondary sanctions imposed on the country over nearly 45 years. The inclusion of sanctions dating back to the 1979 hostage crisis signals Tehran’s intent to pursue a broader settlement than previous narrow nuclear agreements.

Ghalibaf, 63, a former commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and long-serving mayor of Tehran, has been appointed as lead negotiator, underscoring the high political priority Tehran places on the Islamabad discussions. Vice President Vance’s presence on the U.S. side similarly reflects the White House’s direct engagement in the talks, signaling the seriousness with which both sides are approaching the negotiations.

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The ceasefire that enabled these talks was brokered by Pakistan just hours before a Trump-imposed deadline on Tuesday night. Under the arrangement, the U.S. suspended bombing operations against Iran for two weeks, contingent on Tehran allowing the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran would permit safe passage through the strategic waterway during the ceasefire window.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who facilitated the ceasefire, invited both delegations to Islamabad to “settle all disputes,” referencing tensions in Lebanon as well. Israel, however, contested this extension, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that the ceasefire does not cover Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council framed the ceasefire as a strategic victory, stating that “nearly all of the war’s objectives have been achieved,” while warning that “our hands remain upon the trigger” and that any misstep by adversaries would be met with full force. The upcoming Islamabad talks mark a critical opportunity to solidify a broader understanding and reduce the risk of renewed hostilities in the region.

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