Today in Islamabad: US and Iran Hold Second Round of Direct Peace Talks Between Tehran and Washington

ISLAMABAD — The second round of historic face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran is underway today in Islamabad, Pakistani officials confirmed Thursday afternoon.

With the two-week ceasefire due to expire in less than a week, high-level delegations from both sides have returned to the Serena Hotel — the same venue where the first round ended without a breakthrough just five days ago.

Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who flew to Tehran on Wednesday, returned overnight with fresh messages from Iranian officials. Sources close to the mediation say he briefed both the US and Iranian teams this morning before the talks resumed.

A senior Pakistani diplomat told reporters on condition of anonymity: “The goal is simple — keep the ceasefire alive and narrow the gaps on the nuclear issue, sanctions relief, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

What We Know So Far Today

• The US side is again led by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and senior State Department officials.
• Iran is represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior nuclear negotiators.
• Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are personally overseeing the process, with Army Chief Munir acting as the key back-channel facilitator.

President Trump, speaking briefly to reporters earlier today, repeated that the conflict is “very close to being over” and that “Iran wants to make a deal very badly.” Iranian state media, meanwhile, described the talks as “serious and constructive” but stressed that any agreement must end the US naval blockade.

Why Today Matters

This is the highest-level direct engagement between Washington and Tehran since the 1979 revolution. The first round lasted more than 21 hours. Today’s session began shortly after noon and is expected to run late into the evening.

For Pakistan, successfully hosting these talks is a major diplomatic victory. It puts Islamabad at the centre of one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints and demonstrates its unique ability to talk to both sides when others cannot.

Markets are watching closely. Oil prices eased slightly this morning on hopes of progress, but any breakdown could send them spiking again.

Live from Islamabad: The talks are happening right now. I’ll update this post the moment there is any breakthrough or official statement.

What do you think, Pakistan?

Is hosting these talks a proud moment for our diplomacy, or are we taking on too much risk? Let me know in the comments.

Follow for real-time updates from the Serena Hotel and the streets of Islamabad.