US-Iran Islamabad talks extended as both sides draft new text

The first round of in-person discussions stretched late into the night following delays and intense exchanges. Talks later transitioned from verbal discussions to written communication.

In Short

• New US-Iran talks began late Saturday in Islamabad
• Pakistan mediates with leadership involvement
• The US-Iran war was halted by a fragile two-week ceasefire

A third round of high-stakes negotiations between the United States and Iran concluded late Saturday evening in Islamabad, with Pakistani officials serving as mediators, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Reports said the negotiations will go on for a few more hours.

A source cited by Fars News Agency revealed that the two sides were unable to reach a consensus during the previous round and are now working on a revised draft, following Pakistan’s proposal to hold additional talks.

The Iranian government also confirmed the conclusion of the third round in a post on X, stating that negotiations will continue despite persisting differences between the parties.

"At Pakistan’s proposal and with the agreement of the negotiating teams of Iran and the US, talks mediated by Pakistan will continue for another round after a pause on Sunday," the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran said.

Earlier, Iranian sources described the third round of talks as a potential “last opportunity” to reach a common framework, citing what Tehran views as excessive demands from Washington.

The talks come against the backdrop of a brutal six-week conflict between the two countries that has killed thousands and shaken global markets, particularly by disrupting energy flows and driving up oil prices.

Now in its seventh week, the conflict was briefly halted by a fragile two-week ceasefire announced just days ago. The truce has opened a narrow diplomatic window, but remains under strain due to deep disagreements between the two sides.

TOP LEADERSHIP LEADS DELEGATION

The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance, while Iran is represented by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The negotiations mark a rare moment of direct, face-to-face engagement between Washington and Tehran—among the most significant such contacts in decades.

The first round of in-person discussions stretched late into the night following delays and intense exchanges. Talks later transitioned from verbal discussions to exchange of written texts.

Earlier on Saturday night, Iranian and US expert teams exchanged written texts after hours of in-person discussions in Islamabad as the negotiations moved deeper into the technical stage.

The Iranian government said in a post on X that the talks had entered the “expert-level stage as economic, military, legal, and nuclear committees joined”.

“Negotiations continue at the Serena Hotel to finalise technical details,” it added.

PAKISTAN'S KEY MEDIATION ROLE

Pakistan is playing a central role in facilitating the dialogue. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, backed by the country’s military leadership, has been directly involved in the process.

Both US and Iranian delegations also held separate meetings with him ahead of the formal talks.

NARROW WINDOW FOR BREAKTHROUGH

With positions still far apart, this round is being viewed as a critical test of whether diplomacy can hold. Iranian officials have warned that failure to reach a framework at this stage could stall or even derail further negotiations.

As discussions continue behind closed doors, the outcome may determine whether the fragile ceasefire evolves into a broader agreement—or collapses under the weight of persistent disagreements.

- Ends