US and Iran Hold Talks in Pakistan Amid Uncertainty Over Agenda

US and Iran to Meet in Islamabad for Talks

A meeting between top US and Iranian officials is scheduled to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, this weekend. The talks come six weeks after a coordinated strike on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking a war across multiple countries.

The meetings are part of an effort to find an off-ramp for the conflict, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and significant economic disruption. A two-week ceasefire agreed upon by Washington and Tehran is currently under strain due to differing interpretations of its terms.

Iran’s decision to restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil passage, has also had a major impact on global markets and energy prices. The talks are expected to take place at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel, which has been requisitioned for the occasion.

Senior representatives from key players in the conflict will attend the meeting, including US Vice President JD Vance, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. It is unclear whether any representative from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will be present.

Pakistani officials have confirmed that the talks will begin on Saturday morning local time. The meeting is expected to last up to 15 days, according to Iranian officials. Authorities have declared April 9 and April 10 public holidays in Islamabad, with security measures in place across the city.

The venue for the talks has been secured at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel, which is located next to the foreign ministry in the Red Zone of the capital. The hotel will be closed to guests from Wednesday evening through Sunday, and key entry points into Islamabad have also been closed.

Source: Al Jazeera