Iranian Delegation Arrives Friday, US-Iran Talks Begin Saturday
An Iranian delegation is expected to arrive in Islamabad Friday evening (April 10) ahead of crucial talks with the United States on Saturday (April 11) in an effort to transform the two-week ceasefire announced Tuesday into a more permanent peace deal.
Officials in the Pakistani capital said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf will lead the delegation. From the US side, President Donald Trump is said to have sent Vice President J.D. Vance, along with special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, to meet with Iranian officials in Islamabad.
While this meeting represents the largest diplomatic outreach since the ceasefire was agreed upon, the chances of reaching a long-term agreement remain unclear. Iran has not officially confirmed the participation or composition of the delegation—the Iranian embassy in Islamabad has not yet responded—although Iranian state media has said Ghalibaf will lead the negotiations.
The stability of the ceasefire remains fragile as Israel continues its attacks in Lebanon on Iranian-backed Hezbollah targets. Meanwhile, the US and Iran remain far apart on the terms of a long-term ceasefire, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz remaining a key point of contention, underpinning energy risk premiums and risk-on asset sentiment.
Markets will be monitoring confirmation of delegation attendance, the agenda and outcomes of Saturday's meeting, any signs of compromise regarding Hormuz, and the dynamics of the military operation in Lebanon, which could determine whether the two-week pause is moving toward de-escalation or triggering further volatility across assets.
Source: Newsmaker.id
