Vice President JD Vance entered the high-stakes talks with Iranian officials in Pakistan on Saturday as the fragile cease-fire agreement lingers in the balance.
Vance, accompanied by President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, arrived at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad just after 3:30 p.m. local time.
Pakistani officials, who brokered a two-week cease-fire, will face several hurdles as both the US and Iran have not budged over their demands to end the six-week war.
Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Pakistani officials after arriving in Islamabad, Pakistan, for talks with Iranian negotiators on April 11, 2026. Getty Images Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is leading the rogue nation’s envoy, warned on X Saturday that discussions will only take place if there is an Israeli cease-fire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets.
President Trump has posted repeatedly about the negotiations on social media, saying Iranian officials “have no cards.”
He accused Iran of using the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy supplies, for extortion.
Earlier in the day, Vance met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“Prime Minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region,” Sharif’s office said.
