Pakistan’s capital is on high alert as it prepares to host critical talks between the United States and Iran, the first since a six-week war across the West Asia killed thousands and disrupted global oil markets.
Security has been tightened across Islamabad, with roads leading to the Red Zone home to key government buildings. Authorities have imposed a two-day public holiday while heavy military deployments and checkpoints have been put in place and the Serena Hotel, adjacent to the Foreign Ministry, has been sealed off as the venue for the negotiations.
The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance alongside special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, is expected in Islamabad later today. Tehran has not officially confirmed its team, though reports indicate Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will lead the Iranian side.
The talks aim to solidify a fragile ceasefire, address disagreements over Lebanon’s inclusion, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global oil supplies. Israel’s recent strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which killed at least 303 people, have intensified tensions and complicated the negotiations.
White House officials say the goal is to find common ground between the sides’ conflicting proposals.
Iran has submitted a 10-point plan that includes recognition of its regional influence and nuclear enrichment rights, while the US reportedly has a 15-point counterproposal demanding no nuclear weapons and reopening the Hormuz Strait.
The outcome could determine not only the trajectory of the West Asia conflict but also the stability of global energy markets.
Trump has strategically put JD Vance at the forefront of negotiations, First to convey that the diplomatic effort is serious, giving ample signal to allies, adversaries, and the public that the administration is fully engaged in seeking an end to the conflict than treating talks for the sake of formality.
Secondly, if the discussions fail or a ceasefire collapses, Trump can claim he gave the administration’s most cautious senior official the chance to secure a peaceful resolution.
