US-Iran Ceasefire Agreement: Talks for Lasting Peace in Islamabad

Following the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, the two countries are meeting in Islamabad to achieve “lasting peace,” according to the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Published on: April 9, 2026 15:06

Reading Time: 5min

Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, April 7, just over an hour before Donald Trump’s ultimatum deadline. The following day, both countries claimed success. President Trump stated, “A total and complete victory. 100%. There is no doubt about it”, in an AFP interview shortly after the ceasefire announcement. On the other hand, Iran’s Supreme Security Council declared that “the enemy suffered an undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat”. The United States and Iran will now begin talks in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday, April 10, to reach a long-term agreement. Franceinfo provides an overview of the organization of these negotiations.

Pakistan Hosts Talks

As a mediator in the Middle East conflict, Pakistan has offered to host the negotiations between the United States and Iran in Islamabad towards reaching a “final agreement”, as stated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He expressed hope for long-lasting peace through the ‘Islamabad talks’ and anticipated more positive news in the days to come.

The Pakistan government maintains good relations with both the United States and Iran. The Pakistani government has developed close ties with the U.S. president and his military chief, as well as with key figures in the Trump administration, including businessman Steve Witkoff, who has business interests in Pakistan.

Direct Negotiations Between Iranians and Americans

American and Iranian delegations will travel to Pakistan. The U.S. delegation, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, will include Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. The White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed their participation in the talks with Iran during a press briefing.

After announcing the arrival of an Iranian delegation in Pakistan on Thursday, the Iranian ambassador to Islamabad deleted the message due to unspecified issues. The Iranian delegation was expected for “serious discussions based on the 10 points proposed by Iran,” but its arrival was uncertain as of Thursday.

Discussions on Iranian Ten-Point Plan

The negotiations will be based on a ten-point list proposed by Tehran on Tuesday to initiate a long-term peace agreement, forming a “viable basis for negotiations,” according to Trump. The Iranian Supreme National Security Council warned that the talks will be conducted “with full distrust of the United States” and that Iranian forces will remain ready to react.

The Iranian plan includes points such as maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, accepting uranium enrichment, lifting all primary and secondary sanctions, ensuring non-aggression by the U.S., and halting war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and withdrawing U.S. forces from the region. Trump expressed willingness to discuss the lifting of sanctions while ruling out uranium enrichment.

A senior White House official casted doubt on the content of these negotiations, indicating that the publicly released Iranian plan is not the basis for discussions with the U.S., contradicting Trump’s statement. This official clarified that the actual negotiation plan was not to be disclosed publicly.

Holidays Declared in Islamabad

Pakistani authorities described the upcoming days as holidays in Islamabad without detailing a specific reason. Such advisories are common for security purposes before significant diplomatic events. Essential services will remain operational, including police, hospitals, and utilities.