An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for lunch on Saturday, according to a Pakistani government source. The meeting took place amid reports that the United States has agreed to release Iran’s frozen assets even before formal talks begin, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Sources indicated that Pakistan could act as a mediator in potential discussions between the United States and Iran. Pakistani officials may hold separate meetings with both sides to maintain communication channels, similar to previous diplomatic efforts. Ghalibaf stated that the United States must agree to unfreeze Iranian assets before any negotiations can start.

Iranian media have claimed that Washington has already agreed to this condition, though there has been no official confirmation from the United States so far. The discussions in Islamabad reportedly also touched on Iran’s assets and the Lebanon ceasefire issue, reflecting the complexity of the ongoing diplomatic situation.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described his country’s mediation in potential peace talks between the United States and Iran as a proud moment not only for Pakistan but for the entire Muslim world. According to Pakistani media outlet The Dawn, Sharif expressed gratitude to the leadership of both nations for agreeing to a temporary ceasefire and to hold discussions in Islamabad aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution.

In a televised address, Sharif credited Pakistan’s diplomatic prudence and confidence for bringing Tehran and Washington to agree on a ceasefire. He praised Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s team for their tireless efforts and lauded Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir for his role in easing tensions and encouraging dialogue. Sharif cautioned, however, that while a temporary truce is in place, achieving lasting peace will be a long and challenging process.

Representatives from Iran and the United States are scheduled to meet in Islamabad on Saturday, April 11, at the Serena Hotel. An Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials, has already arrived in the Pakistani capital.

Pakistan has emerged as a mediator between the United States and Iran by hosting their first direct talks aimed at ending a war that has claimed thousands of lives. The discussions are taking place in Islamabad, signaling a remarkable transformation for a country long associated with security concerns and economic instability. The talks mark a significant change in relations between Islamabad and Washington since Donald Trump’s first presidential term, when he had sharply criticized Pakistan.

US Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have arrived in Islamabad to participate in the negotiations. Vance is the highest-ranking US official to visit Pakistan since 2011. Analysts attribute this diplomatic breakthrough to a combination of geographic necessity, skilled diplomacy, and shifting regional alliances that have elevated Pakistan’s global standing.

The discussions face complications over Iran’s frozen assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon. Ahead of the talks, Tehran issued a stern message, while the UN Secretary-General called on both sides to engage constructively.

An Iranian delegation comprising 71 members has arrived in Pakistan to participate in discussions with the United States, according to reports from Iranian and international media. The Tasnim News Agency stated that the delegation includes the main negotiation team as well as experts, media personnel, and members responsible for protocol and security. The talks are taking place in Islamabad.

The discussions are reportedly focused on key issues such as Iran’s frozen assets and the ceasefire in Lebanon. Ahead of the talks, Tehran issued a firm message emphasizing its readiness and strong stance. The United Nations Secretary-General has also made an appeal to both the United States and Iran before the start of the negotiations.

The outcome of these talks could influence regional stability and future diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States, though no details of progress or agreements have yet been disclosed.

The United States and Iran are set to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan, to discuss a range of contentious issues including the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has insisted that formal negotiations can only begin once Washington commits to lifting sanctions and supporting a ceasefire in Lebanon, where nearly two thousand people have been killed since fighting began in March.

Iran seeks recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz, including the right to collect transit fees and control access, while the US wants the waterway to remain open without restrictions or tolls. Washington has signaled interest in easing sanctions if Iran makes concessions on its nuclear and missile programs. Tehran, however, refuses to compromise on its missile arsenal and demands the withdrawal of US forces from the region.

The talks are expected to be complex, with Iran also seeking compensation for wartime damages and a commitment to non-aggression. The United Nations Secretary-General has urged both sides to engage constructively before the Islamabad meeting.

An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim. The delegation, which arrived early Saturday, included Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the secretary of the Defense Council, the governor of the Central Bank of Iran, and several lawmakers.

The meeting took place as U.S. Vice President JD Vance was also in Islamabad leading an American delegation. Reports indicated that the discussions in Islamabad were complex, with key issues involving Iran’s assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon. Ahead of the talks, Tehran issued a firm message emphasizing its readiness to respond strongly if provoked.

The developments come amid heightened diplomatic activity involving Iran, Pakistan, and the United States, with the United Nations Secretary-General previously calling on both Washington and Tehran to engage in dialogue.

For the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the United States and Iran are set to hold high-level diplomatic talks. The historic meeting is taking place this afternoon in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking the first formal face-to-face dialogue between the two nations since the 2015 nuclear agreement. Relations had sharply deteriorated after the U.S. withdrawal from that deal in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump.

The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President J.D. Vance and including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, arrived in Islamabad on Saturday morning. They were received by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Army Chief General Asim Munir. Pakistan’s foreign ministry expressed hope that both sides would engage constructively and reiterated its willingness to mediate for a lasting resolution.

The meeting follows six weeks of war between Iran and the United States, triggered by a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Analysts view the Islamabad talks as a decisive moment that could determine whether the conflict ends and the Strait of Hormuz reopens.

Pakistan has emerged at the center of global diplomacy as it hosts long-anticipated peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad. The discussions, beginning today, follow Pakistan’s successful mediation of a two-week ceasefire between Iran and its adversaries. To commemorate the occasion, Islamabad has been decorated with digital billboards displaying the ‘Islamabad Talks’ logo, and the government has declared a two-day public holiday.

The world’s attention is now on these talks, with hopes that they will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and bring an end to ongoing conflicts. Abdul Basit, a South Asia expert at Nanyang Technological University, described the development as a major victory for Pakistan, noting that the country helped avert a potential global crisis when others could not.

Analysts caution that failure of the talks could expose Pakistan to severe risks, including renewed conflict with neighboring Iran. For a nation that only two years ago faced near-default and continues to manage tense relations with India, the success of these negotiations is seen as crucial. Pakistani citizens have taken to social media to celebrate what they view as a diplomatic triumph.

A high-level and sensitive round of talks between Iran and the United States is set to begin in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. Iran’s 71-member delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, includes senior officials such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Central Bank Governor Naser Hemmati, and members of the Supreme National Security Council. The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, comprises around 100 members including Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper, and White House Policy Planning Director Michael Anton.

At the center of the discussions is a 15-point proposal from the Trump administration, reportedly covering Iran’s nuclear commitments, uranium transfer, defense restrictions, and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has indicated it will negotiate based on its own 10-point plan, while Vance warned that Washington will maintain a firm stance if Tehran lacks goodwill. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the talks as a decisive moment for bilateral relations.

Security has been tightened around Islamabad’s Serena Hotel, where the discussions are taking place, reflecting the global significance of the negotiations.

A United States delegation has arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, to participate in discussions with Iran aimed at ending ongoing hostilities. The delegation is led by US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Jared Kushner and senior adviser Steve Witkoff. They were received by Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker. According to Reuters, around 100 members of the US delegation are already in the city.

The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf, arrived earlier on Friday. It includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Deputy of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, and other senior officials. Pakistan’s top officials, including Ishaq Dar, Asim Munir, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, welcomed the Iranian team.

Reports indicate that the Islamabad talks face complexities, with key issues involving Iran’s frozen assets and a ceasefire in Lebanon. The United Nations Secretary-General has also urged both the United States and Iran to engage constructively before the discussions begin.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has said that his country is prepared to do everything necessary and take as long as needed to help secure an agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending their ongoing conflict. He described the fact that discussions are taking place as a major success.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Sheikh explained that bringing Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table was not the result of any “magic word” but rather a process requiring persistence, patience, and continuous effort from all sides. He noted that each of these elements had been part of intensive diplomatic efforts over the past several weeks.

According to Sheikh, all parties have responded to Pakistan’s efforts to ensure a ceasefire and set a timeline for talks with a constructive attitude.

An Iranian delegation has arrived in Islamabad to participate in discussions with United States officials focused on achieving a ceasefire. Iranian media reported that the delegation reached the Pakistani capital on Friday night. The group includes several senior figures such as Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Supreme National Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati, and former IRGC commander Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. Several members of Iran’s parliament have also joined the delegation, according to the reports.

The talks are expected to address complex issues, including Iran’s frozen assets and the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. Ahead of the meeting, Tehran issued a firm message emphasizing its readiness to respond if provoked. The discussions are taking place amid heightened regional tensions and international calls for restraint from both Iran and the United States.

The outcome of the Islamabad talks could influence future diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington, particularly regarding regional stability and economic sanctions relief.

Delegations from the United States and Iran are meeting today, Saturday, in Islamabad to discuss steps toward a permanent end to the ongoing war. The Iranian delegation arrived Friday afternoon, while the US team was expected overnight. Despite Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon violating the ceasefire, Pakistan confirmed that the long-anticipated talks would proceed. The meeting is being held at the Serena Hotel near Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry under unprecedented security measures, with major roads closed and military personnel deployed across the city.

The US delegation includes Vice President JD Vance, adviser Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, while Iran’s team is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior officials are mediating. The discussions are expected to last several days and will be based on Iran’s ten-point proposal, which includes conditions for the Strait of Hormuz and ceasefire terms.

The talks come amid uncertainty as Israeli strikes continue in Lebanon, threatening the ceasefire. Both sides remain divided over Hormuz tolls and regional security, raising doubts about the meeting’s outcome.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the upcoming Iran-United States talks in Islamabad, set to begin on Saturday, as a life-or-death struggle aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire in the Middle East. He expressed optimism that the discussions were moving in the right direction. Sharif confirmed that US Vice President JD Vance was en route to Islamabad and that two Iranian delegations had departed for Pakistan.

Earlier, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated that Iran would not begin talks with the United States until a ceasefire was reached in Lebanon and its frozen assets were released. Sharif noted that both sides were shaping narratives for their domestic audiences, adding that Iran was clearly unwilling to endanger Hezbollah.

The talks are drawing global attention as they are seen as a critical step toward easing regional tensions and possibly preventing further escalation if negotiations fail.

Bangladeshi fast bowler Nahid Rana delivered a standout performance in his second Pakistan Super League (PSL) match on Thursday, helping Peshawar Zalmi secure a record-breaking victory over Karachi Kings in Karachi. After a forgettable debut where he conceded 30 runs in three overs, Nahid bounced back impressively, taking three wickets for just seven runs in four overs, including one maiden over.

Peshawar Zalmi, batting first after losing the toss, posted a massive total of 246 for three wickets, powered by a century from Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis (109) and an 87-run innings from captain Babar Azam. In reply, Karachi Kings were bowled out for only 87 runs, with Nahid Rana and spinners Iftikhar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqim leading the attack. The 159-run margin marked the largest victory by runs in PSL history.

The result highlighted Nahid Rana’s rapid improvement and reinforced Peshawar Zalmi’s strong position in the tournament after a dominant all-round display.