Islamabad, April 11 (SANA) U.S. and Iranian officials opened negotiations in Pakistan’s capital on Saturday aimed at halting the war, with early meetings signaling cautious optimism but underscoring deep divisions between the two sides.
The talks began with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosting the Iranian delegation, followed by a separate meeting with U.S. officials. According to the White House, the American team, led by Vice President J.D. Vance and including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, also met with Pakistan’s interior and foreign ministers.
Sharif’s office said both delegations had shown a willingness to engage constructively, expressing hope that the discussions could help lay the groundwork for broader stability.
Still, sharp rhetoric from Washington highlighted the challenges ahead.
Vice President Vance said the United States is prepared for “positive negotiations” provided Tehran acts in good faith, warning against any effort to “manipulate” the process.
President Donald Trump struck a more forceful tone, arguing that Iran’s leverage is limited to its ability to disrupt key maritime routes. He reiterated that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to global shipping “with or without” Iranian cooperation.
A U.S. official also dismissed reports that Washington had agreed to release frozen Iranian assets, emphasizing that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a top priority, alongside ensuring freedom of navigation in the strait.
Meanwhile, The New York Times cited U.S. officials as saying Iran may lack the capacity to fully reopen the waterway, pointing to difficulties in locating and clearing naval mines previously deployed in the area.
Analysts say the Islamabad talks will test whether both sides can shift from confrontation toward diplomacy. However, longstanding mistrust, competing regional interests, and the complexity of the issues involved suggest that progress may be slow—and uncertain.
Whether the negotiations lead to de-escalation or renewed tensions could have far-reaching implications for regional and global stability.
N.J/ A.B
