Iranian Delegation Arrives in Islamabad for High-Stakes Peace Talks with US
By Tahir Shah :
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf arrived in Pakistan late on Friday to participate in high-level negotiations with the United States aimed at consolidating a fragile ceasefire after weeks of conflict.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the “high-powered delegation”, led by Ghalibaf, was received at the airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The Foreign Office said Mr Dar welcomed the Iranian delegation and expressed hope that all parties would engage constructively during the negotiations. He reiterated Pakistan’s willingness to continue facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington in an effort to achieve a lasting and durable resolution to the conflict.
Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV reported that the delegation also includes Defence Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati and several members of parliament.
Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi clarified that Pakistan’s visa-on-arrival facility for the “Islamabad Talks 2026” would apply only to delegates and journalists from the participating countries — Iran and the United States — and would not extend to third-country nationals.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had earlier announced the special arrangement in a post on X, stating that airlines had been requested to allow eligible delegates and journalists to board flights without a visa, with Pakistani immigration authorities issuing visas on arrival upon their entry into the country.
Pakistan is hosting what could become one of the most significant diplomatic engagements in recent years, as senior leaders from the United States and Iran gather in Islamabad following a six-week conflict that has caused heavy casualties and heightened fears of a wider regional crisis.
The American delegation is expected to be led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by President Donald Trump’s key Middle East envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi chaired a high-level meeting to review security preparations for the talks and directed authorities to ensure comprehensive arrangements for visiting dignitaries.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior, Mr Naqvi said hosting the US-Iran negotiations after the ceasefire was “an honour for Pakistan”. He added that a central control room had been established by the ministry to coordinate security and operational arrangements.
Authorities have placed Islamabad under heightened security ahead of the negotiations. The Red Zone has been sealed with access restricted to authorised personnel only, while additional checkpoints have been set up at entry and exit points of the capital.
Islamabad Police also issued a traffic advisory, announcing diversions on major routes including Srinagar Highway and the Islamabad Expressway due to the movement of foreign delegations.
Chief Traffic Officer Muhammad Sarfraz Virk urged residents to avoid travelling toward the Red Zone and to use alternative routes during the restrictions.
Security officials said strict checks were under way across the city, advising citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and to follow official channels, including the Islamabad Traffic Police’s social media platforms and FM 92.4, for real-time updates.
The negotiations, taking place just days after a fragile ceasefire was reached, will aim to determine whether the temporary truce can be transformed into a broader peace agreement.
With tensions across the Middle East still running high, the Islamabad talks are being closely watched by global capitals as a critical test of diplomacy amid fears that the conflict could escalate again if negotiations fail.
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