Iran’s delegation, headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, as part of high-level diplomatic engagements ahead of expected talks with US officials later on Saturday.
US Vice President JD Vance also met with the Pakistani PM, media reports said.
Pakistani media cited PM’s Office as saying that Sharif “praised the American and Iranian delegations for their commitment to constructive engagement in the ongoing negotiations.”
Islamabad April 11 ,2026
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 11, 2026
As the Islamabad Talks commenced today, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with His Excellency JD Vance, Vice President of the United States of America.
The U.S. Vice President was assisted by Special Envoy Steve… pic.twitter.com/XcH5x1VlHl
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that Iran enters the negotiations with the US in “complete distrust”, the Mehr news agency reported.
In a phone call with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul Araghchi said Iran “will fight with full authority to secure the interests and rights of the Iranian people,” citing repeated breaches of promises and “betrayals of diplomacy” by the US.
Araghchi stressed protecting intl law, while the German FM called for stopping Israeli attacks on Lebanon, expressing hope that diplomacy will restore regional stability. #Iran #Germany #Diplomacy #InternationalLaw https://t.co/2qt1OfYFLA
— Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (@Iran_GOV) April 11, 2026
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on Saturday that Tehran has set key preconditions for entering negotiations with Washington, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The agency added that the delegation is also expected to raise concerns over Washington’s failure to honor previous commitments.
The two key points, implementing a ceasefire in Lebanon and releasing Iranian assets, were assured by Ghalibaf a day earlier. The Iranian speaker reiterated that the two conditions must be met before formal talks with the United States can proceed.
“These two points remain unimplemented and must be fulfilled before negotiations begin,” Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on X.
Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented: a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets prior to the commencement of negotiations.
— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 10, 2026
These two matters must be fulfilled before negotiations begin.
US Delegation Arrives
Meanwhile on Saturday, US VP Vance has arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad alongside President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special adviser Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for peace talks with Iran.
The Iranian delegation arrived earlier in the middle of the night ahead of the talks.
Both the Iranian and US delegations were received by Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)