An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad to hold discussions with US officials on a possible ceasefire. The team includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Supreme National Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolkadr, Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati. Upon arrival, the delegation was received by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, military chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Tehran University professor Zohreh Kharazmi told Al Jazeera that Iran entered the Islamabad talks with confidence, viewing the meeting itself as a sign of a shift in the US position. She noted that while former US President Trump had demanded unconditional surrender as recently as March 6, Washington is now at the negotiation table. Kharazmi emphasized that Iran remains firm on its conditions and expects some of them to be accepted in later rounds.

Kharazmi also highlighted that control over the Strait of Hormuz remains central to Iran’s bargaining position, describing it as a means to recover war costs.