First Indirect, Then Direct Talks: How Diplomacy Is Taking Shape Between US, Iran In Islamabad

As Pakistan gears up to host the high-stakes talks between Iran and the United States in Islamabad on Saturday, it is unlikely that both sides will meet directly during the first round of negotiations. The crucial talks are aimed at turning a fragile two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran into a more durable truce.

It is learnt that both delegations will be under the same roof but will not meet directly initially, underscoring the deep mistrust that continues to define ties between the two adversaries. Follow for live updates

Iranian Delegation Lands In Islamabad

The Iranian delegation has already arrived at Nur Khan Airbase, with the US team expected later in the day. Both sides will stay at the Serena Hotel in the Pakistani capital,

which has been secured for the negotiations. However, instead of face-to-face discussions, the talks will follow a “proximity format,” initially, with each delegation seated in separate rooms as Pakistani officials shuttle messages between them, Al Jazeera reported.

Proximity Diplomacy Reflects Deep Mistrust Between Washington, Tehran

Such indirect engagement highlights the fragile state of diplomacy between Washington and Tehran, even as both sides seek to prevent a return to hostilities that have shaken global energy markets. The current ceasefire is set to expire on April 22.

The high-stakes negotiations between the two sides are expected to be both indirect and direct, CNN reported, citing a US official and a regional source.

High-Stakes Talks Aim To Extend Fragile Ceasefire Amid Global Concerns

The backdrop to the talks is a devastating conflict that erupted in late February, when coordinated US and Israeli strikes targeted Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, killing thousands. Iran’s response included disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil corridor, sending shockwaves through global markets.

Despite sharing the same venue, the absence of direct interaction reflects unresolved disagreements on key issues, including sanctions, Iran’s nuclear programme, and regional conflicts such as the one going on in Lebanon.

Islamabad, meanwhile, has turned into a fortress, with heightened security across the capital as it seeks to position itself as a credible mediator. The unusual setup of the talks—together, yet apart—captures both the urgency of diplomacy and the distance that still separates the two sides.