ISLAMABAD: Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf held formal talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday, further solidifying Pakistan’s role as the primary mediator in the burgeoning Middle East crisis.
According to Iranian News Agency Mehr, the meeting with the Prime Minister, which also included Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, comes as the vanguard of a delicate diplomatic push to avert regional escalation. Sources familiar with the discussion suggest that PM Sharif emphasized the need for a sustainable ceasefire, acting as a bridge before the expected “face-to-face” proximity engagement with the United States.
#BREAKING The Iranian delegation, headed by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has met and held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
— Mehr News Agency (@MehrnewsCom) April 11, 2026
It may be recalled that the diplomatic marathon began in the “wee hours” of Saturday morning when the Iranian delegation touched down at Nur Khan Airbase. They were received on the tarmac by Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Diplomats said the optics of the day intensified in the afternoon with the arrival of US Vice President JD Vance, wherein what has been perceived as a pointed display of military protocol, Mr. Vance’s aircraft was escorted through Pakistani airspace by a formation of PAF fighter jets before being welcomed at the airbase by the same high-level reception committee of Field Marshal Munir and Mr. Dar.
A little eaerlier, the two delegations have since moved to a heavily fortified hotel in Islamabad for private consultations. The rhetoric from both camps remains a blend of optimism and historical skepticism:
– The Iranian Stance: Speaking to Iranian state TV, Mr. Ghalibaf stated he entered the talks “hopeful” and with “good intentions,” but remained “cautious” regarding the American commitment to a lasting deal.
– The US Stance: Vice President Vance told reporters that President Trump had issued “some pretty clear guidelines” for the mission. “If the Iranians were willing to negotiate in good faith, the US would extend the open hand,” Vance remarked.
With both parties now on the ground and the preliminary meeting with PM Sharif concluded, observers said the stage is set for what many are calling the “Islamabad Accord” attempts. The presence of both Field Marshal Munir and Deputy PM Dar at the arrivals of both rival delegations underscores a unified civil-military front in Pakistan’s effort to de-escalate the six-week-old conflict.
Meanwhile, security in the capital remains at its highest level, with the Red Zone completely sealed. While the “open hand” has been offered by Washington, the success of the weekend depends entirely on whether the “caution” expressed by Tehran can be mitigated through the Prime Minister’s ongoing mediation.
