Trump Says US Negotiators Will Be in Pakistan for Talks with Iran

Associated Press
Associated PressApr 19, 2026

Why It Matters

Pakistan’s facilitation of U.S.–Iran talks could shift regional diplomacy, enhancing Islamabad’s strategic influence and potentially easing longstanding tensions.

Key Takeaways

  • US delegation arriving in Islamabad for second US‑Iran talks
  • Pakistan tightening security, closing roads, hotels for negotiations
  • Former delegation hotels seized; guests relocated by authorities
  • Islamabad’s Faisal Mosque area turned into restricted red zone
  • Pakistan hopes to broker US‑Iran agreement, boosting regional influence

Summary

President Trump announced a U.S. delegation will travel to Islamabad for a second round of talks with Iran, marking a rare diplomatic overture amid ongoing tensions.

Pakistani authorities have begun extensive security preparations: major roads, monuments and two hotels previously used by Washington and Tehran delegations are now sealed off, and guests are being relocated. Large sections of the capital, including the route to the iconic Faisal Mosque, have been designated as red zones, restricting civilian movement.

Local residents expressed a mix of excitement and curiosity, hopeful that Pakistan’s mediation could produce a breakthrough agreement between the two rivals. The heightened atmosphere underscores Islamabad’s ambition to position itself as a pivotal broker in the Middle‑East peace process.

If successful, the talks could elevate Pakistan’s diplomatic standing, potentially easing U.S.–Iran hostilities and reshaping regional power dynamics, while also offering economic and security benefits to the host nation.

Original Description

Iran did not immediately confirm the talks but its chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday that “there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy,” while acknowledging a wide gap remained between the sides.
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