Islamabad emerges as focal point for high-stakes US-Iran meeting: report

Backchannel diplomacy between the US and Iran is reportedly gathering pace, with mediators pushing to convene a high-stakes meeting in Islamabad as early as this week, even as President Donald Trump pauses planned military strikes and signals progress in talks.

An Israeli official told Axis reporter that efforts are underway to bring together senior representatives from both sides, including Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with Vice President J.D. Vance also potentially attending.

Another report from The Jerusalem Post also underlined that advanced talks are underway to schedule a meeting this week between senior US and Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The proposed meeting, if confirmed, would mark the most direct engagement yet amid the ongoing crisis.

Trump said on Monday his envoys had already held talks with a senior Iranian official, claiming both sides were “in agreement on many points.” The outreach appears to have shaped his decision to suspend planned strikes on Iranian power plants for five days, a move he framed as contingent on continued diplomatic progress.

The pause follows a sharp escalation over the Strait of Hormuz, where Trump had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to reopen the critical oil transit route or face military action. Iran responded with threats targeting the electricity infrastructure in Israel and Gulf countries, heightening fears of a broader regional conflict.

Behind the scenes, mediation efforts led by Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan have intensified. According to an Axios report, officials from these countries have shuttled messages between Washington and Tehran, holding separate discussions with Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Despite Trump’s optimism, Tehran has publicly denied direct talks with Washington, instead portraying the US move as a tactical retreat aimed at containing surging energy prices and buying time.

Also read: Dow Jones rallies 700 pts after Trump pauses Iran action; Brent breaches $100/barrel

Markets, however, are responding to the diplomatic signals US stock futures rebounded sharply while oil prices eased, reflecting investor bets that a near-term escalation may be avoided.