A second round of US-Iran talks could be held before Friday in Islamabad, according to two Pakistani security sources cited by Al Jazeera. The report said two US C-17 military transport aircraft landed at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. At the same time, roads linking the airport to Islamabad’s Red Zone were temporarily closed and security measures were tightened.
Aircraft movement and hotel restrictions point to preparations
Hotel activity added to the sense that arrangements were moving quickly. Serena Hotel and Marriott Hotel were reported to be clearing out guests and not accepting new bookings before Friday. Serena Hotel hosted the first round of US-Iran talks on April 11, which has placed it back at the center of attention. The combination of aircraft arrivals, road closures, and hotel restrictions has fueled expectations that another meeting may be close.
Pakistan mobilizes top political and military channels
Al Jazeera reported that Pakistan has used high-level diplomatic outreach to help facilitate the process. Army chief Asim Munir returned on Saturday after a three-day visit to Tehran, where he met Iran’s president, foreign minister, parliament speaker, and the head of the military central command center. A Pakistani military statement said the trip reflected Islamabad’s “firm resolve” to support a negotiated outcome aimed at peace, stability, and prosperity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also completed shuttle diplomacy across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, returning Saturday from the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. The parallel travel by Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership points to a concentrated push behind the scenes.
First round lasted 21 hours, key disputes remain
The first round of talks, held on April 11 and 12, lasted 21 hours. The US side was led by Vice President Vance, while Iran’s delegation was headed by parliament speaker Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Araghchi. It was described as the highest-level face-to-face contact between the two sides in decades, but no agreement was reached.
The report said the main disagreements still center on uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz. Data from Polymarket showed a 62% chance of the “next US-Iran diplomatic meeting” taking place before April 22, rising to 77% before April 30. With no official confirmation yet on timing or venue, developments in Islamabad have become the main signal being watched.