Pakistan's capital Islamabad is under exceptionally stringent security measures ahead of the commencement of negotiations between Iran and the United States, which are said to potentially mark the end of the war that has devastated the Middle East.
Although the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. is increasingly fragile due to continued Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and disagreements over the terms of talks, Pakistani officials emphasize that the key peace meetings over the weekend will proceed as planned.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Pakistan's interventions are aimed at preserving peace and protecting the fragile ceasefire, continuing behind the scenes. He claims that Pakistan intervened to prevent an Iranian response to the attacks on Lebanon.
Ahead of the first round of talks in Islamabad, scheduled for Saturday, the streets are under heightened control by the military and paramilitary units, with security measures further elevated across the city. Thursday and Friday have been declared public holidays, leaving the streets eerily empty.
Due to the high level of security risks, Pakistani authorities have confirmed that three to four possible venues were considered for the key meeting. According to available information, the most prominent participants are expected to stay at the exclusive Serena Hotel in Islamabad, which may also serve as the negotiation site.
The hotel has been cleared of guests, and traffic within a radius of approximately three kilometers around the facility has been halted for vehicles, with the area placed under complete military control.
Officials have confirmed that the arrival of key delegations is planned for Thursday evening and Friday morning. The U.S. delegation, according to the White House, will be led by Vice President JD Vance, while special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will also travel to Islamabad.
Iranian officials state that their delegation will include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who have participated in previous ceasefire negotiations. The arrival of high-level representatives from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is also expected.