Islamabad: The Iran-US talks aimed at ending the war have commenced in Islamabad with mediation by Pakistan, as reported by Iranian IRIB TV. The discussions are taking place in a hotel in the capital city of Pakistan.

According to Anadolu Agency, Iran has outlined two key conditions for participating in the negotiations. The first condition pertains to the release of Iran’s frozen assets held in various countries, an aspect to which the US side has agreed. The second condition involves the situation in Lebanon, where Iran contests the claims of a complete ceasefire. Although attacks on Beirut have largely ceased and a ceasefire is broadly in place, limited Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continue, making the issue an ongoing point of discussion.

The talks have progressed into an expert-level phase, with specialized committees from both Iran and the US attending the negotiations, as reported by Tasnim News Agency. Contrary to prior speculation, Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), is not part of the US delegation. The US is represented by Vice President James David (J.D.) Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.

The Iranian delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Bagher Qalibaf, accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy to the National Security Council. The ‘Islamabad Talks,’ as they are being called, are hosted by Pakistan and are considered the most significant negotiations since 1979. The talks aim to resolve the broader regional conflict amidst a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier in the week.