High-level delegations from Iran and the United States arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for crucial negotiations, with Iran’s Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref stating that a deal will only take place if the Iranian representatives meet with representatives of ‘America First.‘ Mohammad Reza Aref said this approach will be beneficial to both sides and if they face representatives of ‘Israel First,’ there will be no deal.In a post on X, he said, “If we negotiate in Islamabad with representatives of ‘America First,’ an agreement beneficial to both sides and the world is probable. However, if we face representatives of ‘Israel First,’ there will be no deal; we will inevitably continue our defense even more vigorously than before, and the world will face greater costs.”
The talks, described by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as “make or break,” are being held under intense security and aim to stabilize a fragile ceasefire and determine the future of regional security following the April 8 ceasefire announcement.According to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the window for these discussions is limited to 15 days, with the next 48 hours expected to be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can evolve into a lasting diplomatic resolution or lead to renewed conflict.The Iranian delegation departed their residence on Saturday morning for the prime minister’s office to begin formal discussions. The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai confirmed the development in a post on X, stating, “The Iranian delegation has departed from their residence en route to the Prime Minister’s Office for a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”Earlier in the day, a US aircraft carrying its negotiation team landed in Islamabad, highlighting the seriousness of the engagement. The US team includes Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump.The Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, arrived after midnight under unprecedented security arrangements.
