High-level talks between Iran and the United States have begun in Islamabad. The meeting officially began on Saturday afternoon. After the recent ceasefire, it is seen as an important diplomatic initiative to defuse tensions between the two countries.
According to Al Jazeera, the two countries’ delegations to Islamabad have taken part in the talks. For the first time in many years, direct high-level talks between Washington and Tehran are being held, diplomatic sources said.
It is considered the most important formal talks between the two countries since the 2015 nuclear deal. However, in 2018, then U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal, which further complicated relations between the two countries.
On the other hand, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has long taken a tough stance on direct talks with the United States.
The discussion began in the wake of the recent war situation. During the conflict and tensions, commercial movement in the strategically important Hormuz Strait region was disrupted and instability in the global energy market was created.
On April 8th, the two sides agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan to control the situation. The ceasefire will remain in effect until April 22nd.
Analysts say the dialogue in Islamabad can play an important role in sustaining the ceasefire and finding a way for a future political settlement. However, it is still unclear how successful the discussion will be due to long-standing distrust and regional tensions.