ISLAMABAD: The current peace negotiations between the US and Iran are taking place in Islamabad. They mark the highest level of direct interaction between the two nations following the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979. This landmark meeting is receiving a lot of international coverage because the two countries aim to convert the current ceasefire agreement into a long-term one.
The US vice president, JD Vance, arrived here on Saturday to lead the American team. It also consists of Jared Kushner and other key officials. The head of the Iranian team is the speaker of the parliament, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf.
First Face-to-Face Engagement in Over a Decade
Such dialogues are unprecedented as the two nations have not conducted any face-to-face dialogue since the nuclear deal during the presidency of Barack Obama in 2015. Furthermore, the deal crumbled down in 2018 under the presidency of Donald Trump. Following the breakdown of the deal, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, banned Iran from engaging in any direct dialogue with the United States for several years.
Moving from conflict to dialogue, the current meetings in Islamabad have followed weeks of conflicts that started on February 28. Pakistan mediated a ceasefire for two weeks on April 8.
Pakistan Plays Historic Hosting Role
Moreover, the talks are centered around several major problems such as the Iranian nuclear program, sanctions lifting, regional security, and the Strait of Hormuz.
PM Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani authorities have done everything possible to conduct these talks. Numerous experts believe that it is the turning point after many years of enmity between the two countries.
It seems that the entire world community is watching the process in order to restore peace in the Middle East region.
