Rania Abushamala
10 April 2026•Update: 11 April 2026
An Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan, for negotiations with the US, the Iranian Fars News Agency reported Friday.
The delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Defense Council Secretary Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati, is composed of security, political, military, economic, and legal committees, reported Fars.
The talks are expected to begin only if Washington accepts Tehran’s preconditions, added the agency.
Earlier, Qalibaf said that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets must be ensured prior to the commencement of negotiations.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed the arrival of the Iranian delegation, saying it was led by Qalibaf and included Araghchi.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar expressed hope that Iran and the US “would engage constructively" and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to “continue facilitating the parties towards reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict.”
Pakistan, together with Türkiye, China, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, managed to secure a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday between Washington and Tehran, 40 days after the US and Israel initiated attacks against Iran on Feb. 28.
As part of the deal, the two sides agreed to meet in Islamabad for talks to negotiate a lasting peace.
