United States Vice President JD Vance departed for Pakistan on Friday to lead negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran. Speaking to reporters before boarding his flight to Islamabad, Vance said he expected the talks to be “positive” and confirmed that President Donald Trump had given him clear guidelines for the meeting. The discussions are scheduled for Saturday, with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expected to head the Iranian delegation.

The decision to have Vance lead the US delegation was seen by some observers as a response to Iran’s preference for dealing with him rather than with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff or Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had previously led indirect nuclear negotiations. The talks come after a temporary ceasefire in a conflict that escalated when Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran in June 2025, followed by renewed fighting in February. Despite the pause, both sides have issued conflicting statements about the ceasefire’s scope and terms.

Uncertainty remains over key issues such as control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, and whether Israel’s operations in Lebanon are covered by the ceasefire. Analysts note deep mistrust between the parties but suggest that both sides may see negotiations as a less costly alternative to continued conflict.