U.S. and Iranian officials conducted high-level secret negotiations in Islamabad on April 12, 2026 (local time), lasting a full 14 hours but yielding no agreement.
Details of the Covert Meeting
The discussions took place in a secure safe house amid heightened regional tensions. Iranian officials revealed on social media platform X that the talks between the two nations’ representatives endured only 14 hours. They noted that the U.S. side proposed exchanging complete text drafts, with negotiations described as ongoing in principle.
“This situation persists, but the talks will resume after a ceasefire,” Iranian posts indicated.
The U.S. has yet to issue an official statement on the marathon session.
Timing and Context
The meeting commenced just 5 hours and 30 minutes following a ceasefire in the Middle East, during a recent three-day conflict. It marks the first direct dialogue since Yemen’s full-scale assault two weeks prior, with Pakistan providing full logistical support.
Representing the U.S. was Vice President JD Vance’s deputy, while Iran dispatched Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, deputy speaker of its Assembly, as its lead negotiator.
Regional Flashpoints
Talks unfolded against a backdrop of escalating issues, including changes to Hormuz Strait cooperation protocols, Israel’s Gaza operations, and flare-ups along Lebanon’s front lines.
Military Movements During Discussions
Even as diplomats conferred, military assets mobilized. A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed that two guided-missile destroyers navigated the Strait of Hormuz, asserting the ship’s legal position in the waterway.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) labeled the passage a “strong response to the enemy.”
Prospects for Continuation
Iranian government figures and media outlets anticipate resuming talks on April 12, expressing concerns over emerging anxieties in the situation.
