Historic peace negotiations between the United States and Iran officially commenced in Pakistan today (on Saturday), drawing global attention and a warm welcome from the Palestinian group Hamas.

The talks, hosted in Islamabad, are aimed at securing a "complete and comprehensive end" to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The diplomatic marathon began on Saturday morning with a series of high-level meetings. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a pivotal sit-down with US Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the American negotiating team.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement confirming that the "Islamabad Talks" had officially started, adding that Pakistan "looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace."

Simultaneously, an Iranian delegation arrived in the Pakistani capital and met with Prime Minister Sharif. Iran’s state broadcaster reported that "arrangements for the Iran-US talks will be defined at the conclusion of this meeting."

Earlier, the Iranian officials met with Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, an influential figure who also greeted Vice President Vance upon his arrival.

According to Iran's Fars news agency, messages were exchanged between Tehran and Washington following General Munir’s involvement.

The Palestinian group Hamas issued a statement welcoming the negotiations facilitated by Pakistan and other mediating nations.

The group expressed hope for a "complete and comprehensive end" to the US-Israeli war on Iran and voiced optimism that the dialogue would promote regional stability while strengthening unity across the Arab and Islamic world.

As the "Islamabad Talks" progress, Pakistan continues to play a central role as an intermediary, leveraging its diplomatic ties with both Washington and Tehran to bridge the divide in a conflict that has reshaped regional geopolitics.

Source: Agencies