US and Iran Set to Hold Talks in Pakistan, Reports Say US Vice President Vance to Serve as Negotiator

Pakistan is actively facilitating peace negotiations between the United States and Iran, proposing to hold the talks in Islamabad, the capital. It is rumored that U.S. Vice President JD Vance may serve as the chief negotiator for the U.S. side.
(Previous background: Iran rejected the U.S. 15-point ceasefire agreement and issued five major conditions for a ceasefire: demanding war reparations and control over the Strait of Hormuz.)
(Additional background: Foreign media reports that Trump proposed a 15-point peace plan for Iran and the U.S.: Iran must fully abandon nuclear development in exchange for sanctions relief. Is there a turning point in Middle East tensions?)

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• Rumors: JD Vance to serve as U.S. chief negotiator
• Trump issues a 5-day final ultimatum
• Pakistan seeks to become the host of the negotiations

The geopolitical situation in the Middle East shows potential signs of change. According to The Guardian, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the country is ready to facilitate “meaningful and decisive negotiations” between the U.S. and Iran to end nearly a month of conflict in the Middle East. The White House also confirmed that Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir spoke with President Trump on Sunday to discuss the conflict.

Rumors: JD Vance to serve as U.S. chief negotiator

Sources in Pakistan reveal that if negotiations proceed smoothly, U.S. Vice President JD Vance may be nominated as the chief negotiator for the U.S. side. Since previous negotiations led by Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner failed to gain Iran’s trust, Iranian diplomatic sources have explicitly stated they refuse to engage in dialogue with these two, and consider Vance a more acceptable interlocutor.

Trump issues a 5-day final ultimatum

Despite signs of progress in negotiations, Trump’s pressure on Iran has not eased. Over the weekend, Trump issued a five-day final warning, warning Iran that if it does not reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. will “completely destroy” Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Trump also claimed that U.S. and Iranian officials are engaged in “very strong and powerful talks,” and that consensus has been reached on most points. The positive news about negotiations eased market panic, leading to a sharp decline in international oil prices, which fell below $100 per barrel for the first time recently, hitting a new low.

Pakistan seeks to become the host of the negotiations

Currently, while Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt are considered potential venues for the talks, sources indicate that Tehran prefers to hold the negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital. Pakistan maintains close bilateral relations with the Trump administration and Gulf countries, and is also home to the world’s second-largest Shia Muslim population after Iran.

Additionally, due to Pakistan’s heavy reliance on oil and natural gas imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict has caused severe energy shortages and skyrocketing prices in the country. As a result, Pakistan is actively involved in mediating, hoping to quickly end the hostilities to alleviate domestic economic pressures.