Friday’s (yesterday’s) top news story is the likely arrival of Iranian negotiating team in Islamabad later last night. Therefore, a second round of US-Iran talks now looks a strong probability.
According to media reports, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive with a small team, while a logistics and security team from the US is already in Islamabad. Later, Iran’s state media confirmed Araghchi will be travelling to Pakistan on Friday night.
It is increasingly clear that both the sides seek to reach a deal as early as possible, although there have been delays on account of various reasons. But mediation or the process to achieve dispute resolution is always messy; it is rarely clean, linear, or comfortable, to say the least.
Needless to say, Pakistan has really worked harder to help ensure a sustained dialogue between the US and Iran towards reaching a settlement aimed at achieving lasting peace through ending war and mutual belligerence. Now it increasingly appears that Pakistan’s hectic efforts will bear fruit soon.
Raja Fayyaz, (Lahore)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026