Iranian Delegation Has Not Departed for Islamabad as US-Iran Talks Hang in Balance
Pakistan continues its mediation efforts, but the absence of the Iranian team on the scheduled day adds to the brinkmanship surrounding these high-stakes talks - the first direct US-Iran negotiations in decades.
As the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran approaches its expiration, Iranian state television has confirmed that no Iranian delegation has departed for Islamabad, directly contradicting earlier expectations of renewed talks in Pakistan today.
According to an on-screen alert broadcast by IRIB (Iranian state TV) on Tuesday afternoon local time, “no delegation from Iran has visited Islamabad so far,” and no team, primary, secondary, or follow-up, has left Tehran.
This comes hours after reports suggested an Iranian delegation, possibly including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, would arrive in the Pakistani capital on Tuesday morning for a second round of Pakistan-brokered negotiations with the US. Mounting Uncertainty Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline
The initial round of talks in Islamabad earlier this month produced a temporary ceasefire, but no permanent agreement. With the truce reportedly set to expire on Wednesday night (Washington time), failure to resume negotiations raises fears of renewed escalation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz where tensions have flared again.
Iran has conditioned any further engagement on the lifting of US measures and a more “realistic” American approach. Meanwhile, US officials have described the situation as critical, with President Trump previously warning that a deal is unlikely without significant concessions from Tehran.