JD Vance to Pakistan – to patch up fragile ceasefire

Isak Fritzon

Updated 17.16 | Published 16.46

          

           JD Vance to hold talks with Iran about the shaky ceasefire. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin /AP

Islamabad is shutting down ahead of this weekend's summit.

US Vice President JD Vance to meet with Iranian representatives.

A shaky ceasefire is at stake.

Quick version

• US Vice President JD Vance is to lead a delegation in peace talks with Iran to discuss a shaky ceasefire.
• The negotiations, which are taking place in Islamabad, aim to resolve conflicts around the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon, where Iran and the US have different views.
• Security has been tightened in Islamabad with over 10,000 security personnel, and the city's diplomatic

The future of millions of people in the Middle East, and the fate of a global economy, will be discussed during this weekend's peace talks between the United States and Iran.

US Vice President JD Vance is leading the American delegation. The meeting will be one of the most high-profile in many years, Deutsche Welle reports.

Before leaving for Pakistan, JD Vance says he is looking forward to the negotiations but he also raises a finger of warning.

- If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are prepared to extend our hand. But if they try to deceive us, they will notice that the negotiating team is not very receptive, he says.

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced on Wednesday night. It happened just over an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline, and after his threat to bomb Iran "back to the Stone Age".

The ceasefire is set to last two weeks, but has been shaky so far.

 

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Photo: Gian Ehrenzeller /AP/TT

Trump on Iran: “Doing a bad job”

Trump accuses Iran of violating the agreement and says the country is doing a “very bad job” of allowing oil to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Another major conflict concerns Lebanon.

Iran and Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire, say Lebanon is included.

Israel, which is fighting the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah, says the agreement does not apply to Lebanon.

– The implementation of talks to end the war is based on the United States following its commitments to a ceasefire on all fronts, especially in Lebanon, says a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Iran has presented a list of points on demands for a future peace agreement. Among other things, the United States must recognize Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. The White House says there is another version of the plan that is “more reasonable,” according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt, CNN reports.

 

US Vice President JD Vance in Hungary earlier this week. Photo: Jonathan Ernst /AP/TT

Over 10,000 police in Islamabad

JD Vance is bringing US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to the meeting.

It is not entirely clear who will be part of the Iranian delegation. But Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is expected to attend.

Security in Islamabad has been tightened significantly ahead of the meeting. The diplomatic quarters have been sealed off, over 10,000 police and other security forces have been deployed and a local holiday has been declared to reduce movement in the capital.

The negotiations – led by JD Vance – are expected to be held on Saturday, according to Pakistani security sources.