JD Vance Leads US-Iran Peace Talks in Pakistan Amid Israel-Hezbollah Conflict

Pakistan emerged as the unlikely mediator for US-Iran peace talks as Vice President JD Vance prepared to lead negotiations in Islamabad.

“United States Vice President JD Vance has warned Iran that it would be “dumb” to jeopardise its ceasefire with Washington over Israel’s attacks in Lebanon”

Al Jazeera

Islamabad was placed under tight security lockdown, with the Red Zone completely cordoned off.

Al Jazeera

The talks followed a two-week conditional ceasefire brokered by Pakistan after six weeks of conflict.

The ceasefire was designed to allow the US and Iran to try to come to terms that satisfy US goals of curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions while providing Iran with economic sanctions relief.

The ceasefire's durability was already in question as Israel continued its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Vance warned Iran it would be dumb to let talks collapse over Lebanon, which the US did not consider part of the ceasefire.

JD Vance was thrust into the role of leading peace talks despite having privately warned Trump against war.

He was accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Al-Yawm as-Sabi'

The White House said Vance played a very significant and a key role in this since the very beginning.

Vance's anti-interventionist stance may have made him a more credible partner for diplomacy in Tehran.

He faced the challenge of reconciling his skepticism with the need to defend a war he had opposed.

The talks aimed to convert the temporary ceasefire into a longer-term peace framework.

The ceasefire was already under strain as Israel continued its military campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

“Pakistan‑brokered talks between the U”

AnewZ

More than 300 people were killed in Lebanon by Israeli airstrikes the day after the ceasefire was announced.

The question of whether Lebanon was included in the ceasefire became a major point of contention.

Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif stated the ceasefire included Lebanon, but Netanyahu and Trump maintained it did not.

The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed despite Iran's announcement it would allow safe passage.

The conflicting interpretations and ongoing violence raised doubts about whether the Islamabad talks could produce a lasting peace.

The talks represented a rare diplomatic opening after six weeks of escalating conflict.

Analysts described the moment as a test for Pakistan's diplomatic credibility.

AP News

Vance faced the challenge of translating a temporary ceasefire into a durable peace.

The involvement of Jared Kushner added a personal political dimension to the talks.

Despite the optimism, the underlying issues remained unresolved.

The coming days would determine whether the ceasefire could be extended.