Third round of Iran-US talks conclude in Pakistan, expert teams continue text exchanges

A third round of face-to-face talks between Iran and the US, held with Pakistan as the mediator, has concluded in Islamabad, Iran’s government said Sunday.

Following the end of the latest round, expert teams from both sides continued to exchange written texts as part of the negotiation process.

The talks ended at 3.12 am local time (2212GMT), according to Iranian media reports.

In the post-talks phase, a senior White House official said the process has been ongoing for “15 hours and counting.”

Sources said serious differences between the Iranian and US delegations remain unresolved.

Reports added that progress depends on whether the US shifts from its “maximalist approach” toward a more realistic position.

The third round of trilateral talks between Iran, the US and Pakistan resumed late Saturday in Islamabad after a dinner break, close to midnight, according to Pakistani government sources.

The negotiations were described as ongoing at the time, with expectations that discussions could extend into a second day.

Earlier, the two sides held initial indirect talks before moving into face-to-face negotiations, while also exchanging written texts, signaling cautious progress.

The US delegation is led by Vice President J.D. Vance, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner.

The Iranian delegation is headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior security official Ali Bagheri Kani also taking part.

Senior Pakistani officials facilitated the talks, positioning Islamabad as a key mediator in the process.

Iranian media said the negotiations had entered a “sensitive phase,” with expert teams engaged at the technical level through specialized committees.

Sources close to the Iranian delegation pointed to persistent differences between the two sides.

Pakistan is hosting the talks as part of efforts to end the broader regional conflict under a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week.