By Our Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Teams of experts from Iran and the United States exchanged written drafts on Saturday following hours of in-person discussions in Islamabad, marking a significant step forward in ongoing negotiations amid a temporary pause in the Middle East conflict.
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The talks, held at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel, have entered what Iranian officials described as an “expert-level stage,” involving specialized committees on economic, military, legal, and nuclear matters. According to a statement posted by the Iranian government on X, negotiations are continuing to finalize technical details.
Diplomatic delegations from both countries arrived in the Pakistani capital earlier this week, as Islamabad plays host to the high-stakes dialogue aimed at easing regional tensions.
The negotiations are taking place during a fragile two-week ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran. The conflict, which began with coordinated US-Israeli strikes on February 28, rapidly escalated across the Middle East, disrupting global shipping routes and energy markets.
A temporary ceasefire was brokered by Pakistan on April 8, creating a narrow window for diplomacy. Officials say the current round of talks is focused on narrowing differences and building consensus on key technical issues that could pave the way for a broader political agreement.
While no formal breakthrough has been announced, the exchange of draft texts is seen as a positive development, signaling both sides’ willingness to engage constructively despite deep-rooted differences.
