WASHINGTON: As indirect diplomacy between the United States and Iran converges on Islamabad, messaging from Washington reflects cautious optimism, while acknowledging the fragility of the process.
US President Donald Trump, speaking before boarding Air Force One, expressed guarded confidence in the American negotiating team without predicting outcomes.“We’ll see how it turns out. So it’s JD and Steve and Jared. We have a good team, and they meet tomorrow. We’ll see how it all works out,” he said, referring to the delegation led by Vice President JD Vance.
Trump framed the talks in strategic and economic terms, suggesting regional dynamics would influence results. “The strait will open up… it is going to open,” he said, adding that the US does not rely on it directly. When asked about a fallback plan, he dismissed the need for one: “It won’t be easy… but we will have that open fairly soon… You don’t need a backup plan.” Vice President Vance struck a more traditional diplomatic tone, calling the talks “positive” while warning Iran against attempting to manipulate the process. Pakistan has positioned itself as a facilitator, helping create conditions for dialogue rather than shaping outcomes.
Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh described an “intense diplomatic effort” involving multiple countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He emphasised that prior understandings should be honoured to support meaningful progress and noted that the tone of engagement would be critical.“The most significant part… is the constructive spirit with which both sides have approached it,” he said, adding that the talks remain a “work in progress.”
Pakistan’s role, he reiterated, is limited to bringing parties together. “As a facilitator, the role is to let the conflicting parties decide what satisfies them,” he said, adding that advice would be offered only if requested. He also pointed to strong international support, saying Pakistan’s leadership had received more than 50 calls backing the initiative.
Despite the momentum, uncertainty remains. “Everybody is watching with bated breath… what the result will be is only known at the end,” he said. Still, he noted that both Washington and Tehran have signalled willingness to pursue dialogue. “If we get this right, diplomacy will have space and opportunity,” he added. As delegations arrive in Islamabad, the talks remain balanced between cautious hope and persistent mistrust, with outcomes dependent on what unfolds behind closed doors.
