ISLAMABAD (TNND) — Vice President JD Vance was in Pakistan on Saturday for face-to-face peace talks with government leaders in hopes of reaching a deal with Iran amid a two-week ceasefire.
Going into the negotiations, Vance and President Donald Trump said the U.S. is demanding that Iran end its nuclear program.
Vance was greeted by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior military officials to discuss pathways toward de-escalation the ongoing conflict.
The vice president was joined by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who is Trump’s son-in-law.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – APRIL 11: U.S. Vice President JD Vance (C) talks with Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir (L), and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials on April 11, 2026 at Islamabad, Pakistan. The proposed meeting marks a rare direct engagement between senior U.S. and Iranian officials, as Washington and Tehran seek to advance stalled negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, with Pakistan serving as neutral ground amid persistent tensions between the two countries. (Photo by Jacquelyn Martin – Pool/Getty Images)
Pakistan, which has long played a strategic role in regional geopolitics, is seen as a critical partner in facilitating dialogue.
The White House confirmed the direct nature of the talks. Iran’s state-run news agency said three-party talks had begun after Iranian preconditions, including a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, were met, and after U.S. and Iranian officials met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Vance and the Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf were discussing how to advance the ceasefire already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel’s continued attacks against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Earlier in the week, Vance told reporters the Trump administration will insist that Tehran hand over its ingredients for nuclear weapons.
“What the president has said is that we don’t want Iran to have the capacity to build a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.”The president’s also said that we don’t want Iran enriching towards a nuclear weapon, and we want Iran to give up the nuclear fuel. Those are gonna be our demands during the negotiation, and again, we’re gonna see what the Iranians are willing to give up,” Vance said.
President Donald Trump agreed, saying the main objective of the peace talks would be to ensure that Tehran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
“No nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters on Friday. “That’s 99% of it.”
Vance’s trip also underscores Washington’s broader effort to coordinate with partners in South Asia and the Middle East as it seeks to prevent further escalation and address the economic ripple effects of the conflict.
Pakistani officials welcomed the visit, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to diplomatic solutions.
The vice president’s visit is expected to include a series of meetings over the coming days, though no formal agreements have been announced.
“As the president of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance said on Friday. “If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.