Administration

US, Iran begin face-to-face talks for first time since 1979

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by Sophie Brams - 04/11/26 12:18 PM ET

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by Sophie Brams - 04/11/26 12:18 PM ET

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The negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, on ending the six-week conflict are the first face-to-face talks between the two nations since 1979, the White House confirmed on Saturday.

U.S. and Iranian officials arrived in the Pakistani capital on Friday for a high-stakes trilateral meeting regarding the fragile two-week ceasefire reached on Tuesday evening, hours before President Trump’s deadline for Tehran to make a deal or face punishing strikes on civilian infrastructure.

Vice President Vance is leading the U.S. delegation, which also includes special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff; Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner; deputy national security adviser Dr. Andrew Baker; and Michael Vance, special adviser to the vice president for Asian affairs.

A “full suite of U.S. experts on relevant subject areas” is also present in Pakistan, according to a U.S. official.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are representing the Iranian regime. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is acting as the mediator.

The temporary truce is already on shaky ground, as both sides accuse the other of violating the terms of the deal, concerning Israeli attacks in Lebanon and the reclosure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Vance appeared optimistic about the negotiations on Friday, saying the U.S. delegation had received “pretty clear guidelines” from Trump.

“As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” he said. “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

Qalibaf warned earlier Friday that there would be no negotiations with the U.S. unless the attacks in Lebanon stopped and blocked Iranian assets were released, two conditions of its 10-point peace proposal.

In a phone call with NewsNation on Saturday, Trump said he had “no idea” how the talks would go on Saturday.

“I’ll let you know that in a very short period of time. Won’t take long,” Trump told Kellie Meyer, when asked if he thought Tehran was acting in good faith.

The meeting marks the first time officials from the two nations have sat down face-to-face since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, which culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran.

Previous negotiations, which were held indirectly via third-party intermediaries, have repeatedly stalled over Tehran’s defiance of U.S. demands that it abandon its nuclear program.

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