In one of the most consequential diplomatic developments of the week, direct talks between the United States and Iran — mediated by Pakistan — stretched into a third round on Sunday at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel. In a significant break with precedent, Iranian and American officials were meeting face-to-face rather than communicating through intermediaries shuttling between rooms.
The negotiations escalated to the expert level on Saturday night, with economic, military, legal, and nuclear committees from both sides exchanging written texts after hours-long in-person discussions. “Negotiations continue… to finalise technical details,” the Iranian government posted on X.
The talks are taking place during a two-week ceasefire in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran that began with attacks on February 28 — a war that has dramatically reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. The stakes could not be higher: a breakdown in talks risks renewed hostilities, while a breakthrough could chart a path toward de-escalation in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
