ISLAMABAD — Negotiations between the United States and Iran are set to begin in Islamabad on Friday, officials from both sides said on Wednesday, following a two-week ceasefire agreement tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The talks were announced after U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian officials confirmed the temporary truce late Tuesday. Pakistan, which mediated the deal, will host the discussions. The ceasefire suspends direct U.S. attacks on Iran, conditional on Tehran coordinating safe passage for vessels through the strategic waterway.
Trump said in a Truth Social post that he agreed to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks “subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.” He added that Iran had presented a 10-point proposal that he believes is “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed acceptance, stating that if attacks against Iran halted, Iranian forces would cease defensive operations. “For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,” he said according to Iranian state media.
The conflict escalated after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets beginning in late February. Iran responded by restricting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments normally pass. Limited vessel movements were reported in the strait early Wednesday under Iranian coordination, shipping monitors said.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir played a central role in the last-minute diplomacy that led to the pause, according to statements from Washington and Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel supports the U.S. decision to suspend attacks on Iran but clarified that the ceasefire does not apply to Israel’s operations in Lebanon.
Details of the agenda for Friday’s negotiations remained unclear. Both sides described the ceasefire positively, though implementation specifics, including exact timing and volume of resumed shipping, were not fully detailed.
As of Wednesday, the situation in the Gulf was being monitored closely, with global oil prices having dropped sharply after the announcement. The two-week window is intended to allow time for broader diplomatic efforts.
