JD Vance hopeful of 'positive' outcome as he departs for US-Iran talks in Islamabad
US Vice President JD Vance speaks to the media before boarding Air Force Two for expected departure to Pakistan for talks on Iran, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on April 10. Photo: Reuters
US Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that America was looking forward to the negotiation with Iran and expressed hope that it would be positive as he departed for Pakistan to attend the 'Islamabad Talks'.
“We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith and extend an open hand, that’s one thing. If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive. The president has given us some pretty clear guidelines, and we’ll see how it goes,” said JD Vance.
.@VP departs for Islamabad, Pakistan: "As @POTUS said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive." pic.twitter.com/9nNDGsMmId
Pakistan is set to host what could prove to be one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements in recent history, as senior leaders from the US and Iran arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes negotiations following a devastating six-week war that has left thousands dead and pushed the global economy to the brink of recession.
The American delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by President Donald Trump's key Middle East envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. On the Iranian side, Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is expected to head the delegation, alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other senior officials.
Islamabad has effectively been placed under an unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the talks. Key routes have been sealed, security personnel heavily deployed, and surveillance heightened to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries. Officials say the negotiations will take place at a secure, undisclosed location, away from the media spotlight.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the region. Last month, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, which prompted Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East led to efforts by political and military leadership in Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.
To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad, with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The meeting grabbed the world's attention and was widely appreciated for Pakistan's efforts.
Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East.
Perilous ceasefire
A fragile, conditional ceasefire is in place between the US and Iran, agreed after weeks of intense conflict. The deal revolves around a two‑week pause in fighting, largely aimed at halting major military strikes and reopening strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz — although core disagreements remain unresolved. Both Washington and Tehran have declared the ceasefire a kind of victory, even as they stick to competing demands for a long‑term settlement.
At the centre of the truce is a 10‑point proposal from Iran, which the US has described as a “workable basis” for negotiation. The plan reportedly covers issues like non‑aggression, control and operation of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions, and cessation of hostilities on multiple fronts — including calls for an end to wars in related theatres. This framework is now set to guide peace talks, with Pakistan expected to host negotiations aimed at turning the temporary ceasefire into a more durable peace.