The most consequential diplomatic sessions in decades went longer than anyone expected. On Saturday, the US and Iranian delegations sat down at Islamabad’s Serena Hotel and talked through the day, the evening, and into the early hours of Sunday — 14 hours of discussions that produced no announced agreement but, crucially, produced a decision to keep going.
By Sunday morning, both delegations were back at the table.
What Happened Saturday
The first round of peace talks between the United States and Iran on Saturday went on well into the evening and face-to-face meetings concluded without the announcement of a resolution. In a post on X, Iran’s government said that after 14 hours, the talks had ended for now. “Negotiations will continue despite some remaining differences,” the post said. An Iranian state TV reporter said the talks would continue on Sunday.
The high-stakes negotiations involved three rounds of discussions and had been expected to last just one day. The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, and the Iranian one, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, discussed with Pakistan how to advance the ceasefire — already threatened by deep disagreements and Israel’s continued attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose health ministry said the death toll has surpassed 2,000.
The Iranian delegation arrived dressed in black in mourning for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others killed in the war. They carried shoes and bags belonging to students killed during US airstrikes — a symbolic gesture that set the tone for Iran’s posture throughout the day.
The meetings began after both delegations separately met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has positioned himself as the indispensable bridge between two sides that have not had direct diplomatic contact in 46 years.
The Core Sticking Point
Pakistani sources told CNN that the overall tone and outcome of the negotiations has remained largely positive, but that a stalemate persists over control of the Strait of Hormuz — the vital waterway where the US said it began mine-clearing operations on Saturday.
A source close to Tehran’s negotiating team told CNN the US made “unacceptable demands” over the strait and several other issues. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency said: “Considering the US’s excessive demands, it seems that this is the Iranian team’s last chance to reach a common framework in this round of talks.” Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting added: “It appears that this is Pakistan’s final effort to see whether it can achieve a result from this round of negotiations or not.”
Iran presented four “non-negotiable conditions” to mediators. They include full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, complete war reparations by the aggressor, unconditional release of blocked assets, and a durable ceasefire across the entire West Asia region, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
What the Talks Proved
Even without a deal, the format of Saturday’s negotiations marked a significant shift. Al Jazeera reported that sources close to the mediation confirmed the two teams were involved in direct negotiations, with Pakistani mediators also present in the room — a format that had originally been expected to be indirect, with Pakistan shuttling between the two sides.
There were signs of limited movement on some issues. Sources cited by Al Jazeera said there had been “some progress made on basic conditions, including on the need for a ceasefire in Lebanon.” While no Lebanon ceasefire was agreed, there were reports of a possible understanding to limit strikes to southern Lebanon.
Sources also suggested there could be “some movement on the unfreezing” of Iranian assets. Qatar’s Ministry of Transport announced that maritime navigation would fully resume for all types of vessels and ships in the Persian Gulf starting Sunday — a development that, while not a Hormuz opening, suggested some movement in the broader shipping landscape.
The Stakes for Sunday
Trump, speaking to reporters Saturday, said the US is in “deep negotiations” with Iran but added it “doesn’t make a difference” whether a deal is reached. “We won,” he said — a claim Iran entirely rejects.
Analysts say both parties are looking for a way out. “That was a very rare concurrence — no other country enjoyed the same kind of trust from both parties,” said Rasheed Wali Janjua of the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. If the talks succeed, it could lead to “radically changed perceptions of Pakistan” in the world.
The ceasefire expires April 22. Sunday is now the most important day of the talks. A framework agreement — not a final peace deal, but enough to extend the ceasefire and structure further negotiation — is the goal. Whether it can be found today remains the most consequential diplomatic question in the world.
