11.04.2026 12:30
Iran and the US have taken a step closer to sitting at the negotiation table in Pakistan after a 40-day war. The condition set by Iran for the negotiations, which is the release of frozen Iranian assets, has been accepted by the US ahead of the talks expected to start at 1:00 PM. The value of Iran's frozen assets in international accounts is estimated to be between 100 billion and 120 billion.
The United States and Iran are coming together for a critical meeting in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, with the aim of ending the war in the Middle East.
IRAN HAD PRESENTED FROZEN ASSETS AS A CONDITION FOR NEGOTIATION
Iranian delegation head, Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf, stated that a ceasefire should be established in Lebanon before the contacts in Pakistan, while also expressing the release of Iran's frozen assets as a precondition. Iranian media reported that negotiations would begin if these conditions were accepted.
THE U.S. ACCEPTED THE CONDITION
An important development occurred regarding one of the conditions put forward by Iran. The United States agreed to release frozen funds belonging to Iran.
The value of Iran's frozen assets in international accounts is estimated to be between 100 billion and 120 billion.
WHO IS IN THE DELEGATIONS?
In today's meetings, the U.S. side will be represented by a delegation led by Vice President JD Vance. The delegation also includes White House Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The Iranian side is led by Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Baqir Qalibaf. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, and several members of parliament will also participate in the negotiations. It is still unclear whether the parties will meet directly or indirectly.
RED ALERT IN ISLAMABAD
Following Israel's intensification of attacks in Lebanon, Iran's insistence on including Lebanon in the ceasefire continues, while silence prevails in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, ahead of tomorrow's meetings. After the temporary ceasefire established on April 8 following the war that began with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, security measures have been increased in Islamabad, where negotiations are set to take place. Prior to the U.S.-Iran peace talks, more than 10,000 police and security personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of visiting delegations, and a "red alert" status has been declared in the capital. Pakistani officials, who began to increase security measures yesterday, closed Old Airport Road and all routes leading to Nur Khan Air Base by placing containers and barbed wire.
U.S. AND ISRAEL - IRAN WAR
The United States and Israel began attacks on Iran targeting the country's military and nuclear infrastructure on February 28, during which Iran's religious leader Ali Khamenei was killed. The Tehran administration responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of global oil and natural gas passes, to the attacks that resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 people in Iran. This decision by Iran also caused energy prices to soar and disrupted global trade. The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 8 with Pakistan's mediation. The ceasefire is expected to end on April 22.
WHAT'S ON THE TABLE?
Pakistan, which was the first to recognize Iran's independence in 1947, plays a significant role in the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. For this reason, the parties agreed to hold the talks in Islamabad. The discussions are expected to address Washington's 15-point proposal focusing on Iran's enriched uranium and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Iran's 10-point plan demanding control of the strait, transit fees for ships passing through the strait, the cessation of all regional military operations, and the lifting of all sanctions.
Qalibaf stated that if the U.S. side is ready for a real agreement and if the Iranian people are granted their rights, the Iranian side is also ready for an agreement, saying, "In the current war, we have shown them this; if they want to use negotiations as a futile show and deception operation, we are also ready to obtain our rights by relying on our faith in God and the strength of our people."
One of the important points of the negotiations is Lebanon. Israel's continuation of attacks targeting Hezbollah after the ceasefire came into effect has influenced whether the negotiations will take place. Considering Iran's insistence that the ceasefire includes Lebanon and its declaration that it will not participate in negotiations unless a ceasefire is established in Lebanon, Lebanon will also be one of the topics on the table in tomorrow's meetings.