JD Vance Attends Face-to-Face Iran Talks in Islamabad: White House

The White House has confirmed that United States Vice President JD Vance is taking part in direct face-to-face talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, according to Al Jazeera.

The discussions between the US and Iranian delegations began earlier on Saturday (April 11) and are still ongoing, following a two-week interim ceasefire after 40 days of US-Israeli military escalation, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance and includes President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner. The Iranian delegation is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
 

Al Jazeera reports that although earlier expectations suggested indirect negotiations, the format was later changed to direct talks, with Pakistani mediators also present. If confirmed, this would mark the highest-level direct engagement between the two countries since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

According to Al Jazeera, the discussions are taking place in a positive atmosphere. After nearly two hours of negotiations, a dinner break was taken, with talks expected to resume afterward.

Sources indicate that several key issues have already been discussed, including regional tensions involving Lebanon. Some reports suggest possible progress regarding limiting military operations in southern Lebanon and reducing strikes on Beirut.

Other reports indicate that discussions may also include the unfreezing of Iranian assets as part of a potential agreement framework.

The outcome of the ongoing negotiations remains uncertain as talks continue in Islamabad under Pakistan’s mediation.