Islamabad Talks

The Islamabad Talks, also known as the Islamabad Peace Talks, were high-level diplomatic negotiations held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 11 and 12 April 2026 between Iran and the United States, aimed at stabilizing the 2026 Iran war ceasefire and negotiating a potential resolution to the 2026 Iran war. It was mediated by Pakistan, which played a central role in brokering the ceasefire and facilitating the talks, and marked the highest-level direct talks between the two countries since the Iranian Revolution of 1979.

The 300-member U.S. negotiating team was led by vice president JD Vance, alongside special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; while the 70-member Iranian team was led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, alongside foreign minister Abbas Araghchi. The Pakistani mediating team was led by prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, field marshal Asim Munir, and deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar. The talks lasted 21 hours between 11 and 12 April 2026, and consisted of three rounds with the first one being indirect, and the second and third ones being direct.

The teams were reportedly able to agree on the main points of the 10-points ceasefire, with the exception of the issues regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian nuclear program. The talks ended with no agreement reached, and no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being issued..

The negotiations followed a major escalation in hostilities beginning in February 2026, when coordinated strikes by the United States and its allies triggered a broader regional war involving Iran and multiple Middle Eastern actors. The conflict led to significant casualties, regional instability, and disruption of global energy markets, particularly due to Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. A temporary ceasefire, reportedly brokered through Pakistani diplomatic efforts, preceded the talks. However, the ceasefire has been described as fragile given the continuing violence in parts of the region, most importatnly clashes in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah (Iran's client).

The talks were held at the Jinnah Convention Centre, pictured here in 2004

On 8 April, authorities in Islamabad declared public holidays for 9 and 10 April in the federal capital to facilitate the upcoming talks. Government offices and educational institutions were ordered to remain closed, while essential services such as police, hospitals, and utilities continued to operate.

Extensive security measures were implemented across the capital, with reports indicating the deployment of more than 10,000 police and security personnel, supported by paramilitary forces and military coordination. The city was placed on high alert, with strict restrictions on movement and heightened surveillance in key areas.

The Serena Hotel in Islamabad, located within the heavily secured Red Zone near key government buildings and foreign embassies, was requisitioned to host the delegations. Guests were asked to vacate the premises ahead of the talks, and the facility was designated as the primary venue for negotiations. The Red Zone was sealed, and multiple entry points into Islamabad were closed as part of a wider security cordon. Authorities also implemented traffic diversion plans across major roads, including the Express Highway, advising residents to adjust travel plans due to expected disruptions.

According to officials, the security arrangements included coordination between Islamabad Police, Punjab Police, Rangers, and other security agencies to ensure protection for visiting delegations and control movement across the capital. The government also introduced facilitation measures for international media, including visa-on-arrival arrangements for foreign journalists covering the talks and shuttle transport services between designated media area, Jinnah Convention Centre, and Serena Hotel.

The negotiations involved senior political, diplomatic, and security officials from both countries.

The United States delegation of nearly 300 members was led by Vice President JD Vance and included senior officials such as special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner. According to a senior official cited by BBC News, the broader delegation also included National Security Adviser Andrew Baker and Asian affairs adviser Michael Vance. Additional subject-matter experts were present in Islamabad, with further support teams based in Washington, D.C.

The Iranian delegation consisted of around 70 members, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with additional political, security, and economic officials. The reported members included:

• Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – Speaker of the Parliament (head of delegation)
• Abbas Araghchi – Foreign Minister
• Reza Amiri Moghadam – Ambassador to Pakistan
• Ali Akbar Ahmadian – Member of the Supreme National Security Council
• Ali Bagheri Kani – Deputy to the Supreme National Security Council
• Esmail Ahmadi Moghadam – President of the National Defence University
• Mohammad Jafari – Assistant to the Secretary at the Supreme National Security Council
• Abdolnaser Hemmati – Central Bank Governor
• Kazem Gharibabadi – Deputy Foreign Minister
• Majid Takht-Ravanchi – Deputy Foreign Minister
• Valiollah Nouri – Deputy Foreign Minister
• Esmail Baghaei – Deputy Foreign Minister and Foreign Ministry spokesperson
• Abolfazl Amouei – Member of Parliament
• Mohammad Nabavian – Member of Parliament

Pakistani leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defense Forces Asim Munir, facilitated the negotiations and acted as intermediaries. On 11 April, it was reported that amid the negotiations, high-ranking senior IRGC officials arrived in Pakistan to provide “consultation” to the Iranian delegation.

The Islamabad Talks represented the first instance of direct high-level, in-person engagement between the United States and Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. They were widely regarded as a critical diplomatic effort to prevent further escalation and stabilize the region. The outcome of the talks, whatever the case, was expected to have significant implications for regional security, global energy markets, and international diplomatic relations.

Russia called for restraint from all parties involved in the Islamabad talks, urging them to adopt a “responsible approach” and avoid actions that could undermine the negotiations. In a statement reported by TASS, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the talks represent an opportunity to advance a settlement of the crisis in the Gulf region. The ministry added that most countries support the diplomatic process and expressed hope for the success of the United States–Iran talks being held in Islamabad under Pakistani mediation. It also noted concerns that “forces” may be attempting to slow or obstruct progress toward peace.

France expressed support for the Islamabad talks and called for de-escalation. President Emmanuel Macron said he had urged Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to use the negotiations to achieve a “lasting de-escalation” and work toward a broader agreement ensuring regional security. Macron also emphasized the need for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as part of efforts to stabilize the region.

Hamas welcomed the Islamabad talks, expressing support for efforts aimed at ending the conflict. In a statement reported by Al Jazeera, the group said it backed negotiations “aimed at a complete and comprehensive end” to the war involving the United States and its allies. The statement also expressed hope for the success of Pakistan’s mediation efforts, stating that positive outcomes could contribute to regional stability and unity among Arab and Islamic countries.

The talks concluded on 12 April 2026. The negotiations lasted about 21 hours and ended with the United States and Iranian delegations leaving Islamabad without reaching a deal. The main unresolved issues reportedly included Iran's nuclear program and the status of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials said they had not expected an agreement to be reached in a single round of talks and that contacts were expected to continue. Pakistani officials described the talks as part of an effort to preserve the ceasefire and encourage further diplomacy between the parties.

Iran’s minister of foreign affairs Abbas Araghchi claimed that they were "inches away from an MoU" and accused the U.S. delegation of moving the goalposts and maximalizing. More broadly, the Iranian delegation believed that Washington had to do more to earn their trust.

Trump claimed that Iran had "knowingly failed" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and Vance said that Iran had refused the possiblity of not developing nuclear weapons.

• 2026 Iran war
• Iran–United States relations
• Foreign relations of Pakistan