ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Reuters) - Iranian and United States officials began peace negotiations in the Pakistani capital on Saturday, with Iran insisting on two preconditions before formal discussions can proceed.
The talks represent the highest-level face-to-face engagement between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic revolution, according to a senior White House official cited by Gulf Times. Negotiations are taking place at a hotel in Islamabad’s diplomatic zone, with Pakistan acting as mediator.
US Vice President JD Vance leads the American delegation, joined by special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner. Iran’s team includes more than 70 members, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials.
The talks follow a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8. That truce paused a six-week conflict that began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iran has set two key conditions for the talks. Tehran demands a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets held in foreign banks, including Qatar. Iranian state media reported that the US has agreed to both conditions.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Washington had agreed to release the frozen assets. The source said Tehran views this as a test of American goodwill and a sign of seriousness about lasting peace.
The White House denied those claims. A US official said Washington had not agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets in Qatar.
Upon arrival in Islamabad, Ghalibaf expressed deep skepticism about the negotiations. “Our experience in negotiating with the Americans has always been met with failure and broken promises,” Iranian state TV quoted him as saying.
Vance struck a similarly cautious tone before leaving Washington. “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” he said. But he warned the US team would not be receptive “if they’re going to try to play us.”
The talks began with indirect communication through Pakistani officials, exchanging messages via the host country. A trilateral face-to-face meeting later took place among the US, Iran and Pakistan.
After one round of direct talks, the two sides moved to written text exchanges on key issues. Expert teams from economic, military, legal and nuclear committees have joined the process, according to a statement from Iran’s government on social media platform X.
The discussions cover several major disputes. The US demands that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz to normal traffic. Iran controls the strait, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil passes. Trump said on Friday he would have the strait opened soon “with or without” Iran’s cooperation.
Iran has presented a ten-point proposal that includes principles of non-aggression, continued uranium enrichment on its soil, lifting of sanctions, compensation payments and withdrawal of American forces from the region.
US President Donald Trump has stated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is his top priority. “No nuclear weapon. That’s 99 percent of it,” he said.
The ceasefire remains under strain. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have continued, and Iran insists these violate the truce terms. Lebanon’s presidency has announced that negotiators will meet with an Israeli delegation in Washington next week.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who met separately with both delegations, said the negotiations would not be easy. “An even more difficult stage lies ahead,” he said, calling the talks a “make or break” moment.
Sharif has expressed hope that the discussions will serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region.
The talks are ongoing. No official timeline for their conclusion has been announced.