US-Iran Peace Talks Begin in Islamabad as Ceasefire Nears Expiry

US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on April 11 for "make or break" talks with Iran aimed at permanently halting weeks of Middle East fighting. The talks, scheduled for Saturday April 12, involve US VP Vance and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with Pakistan hosting the warring sides.

The United States and Iran have been sworn enemies since the 1979 Islamic revolution. A fragile ceasefire has held for two weeks after over a month of war that killed thousands, displaced populations, and severely disrupted the global economy. Talks come as the ceasefire is set to expire on April 22 unless an agreement is reached.

Both delegations express deep mutual distrust and remain at odds on key demands. The talks represent a critical diplomatic effort to prevent further escalation in a conflict that has already closed the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's crude oil flows. Intelligence agencies worldwide will be closely monitoring whether these talks can achieve what decades of previous diplomatic efforts have failed to deliver.

With global oil markets already volatile and regional tensions high, what diplomatic leverage might force concessions from both sides, and how quickly could any agreement restore stability to the Middle East and global economy?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/04/11/us-iran-more-than-four-decades-of-enmity/