In pictures: US delegation arrives in Islamabad for talks

Pakistan commended the US commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability in upcoming talks with Iran as the American delegations arrived in Islamabad, its foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed hope that the parties would work toward a solution to the conflict, according to the statement.

It added that Pakistan remained willing to continue facilitating the talks.

Iran’s delegation in Islamabad has 71 members, Iranian media reported, after the group arrived on Friday ahead of talks with the United States.

The delegation includes senior officials, core negotiators and technical teams, as well as media and support staff.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is leading the delegation. Other senior figures include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati and senior security official Ali Akbar Ahmadian.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei and senior policy official Ali Bagheri Kani are also part of the group.

Lawmakers and parliamentary aides, including Mahmoud Nabavian and Abolfazl Amouei, are among those attending, along with strategic adviser Mehdi Mohammadi.

JD Vance has played a central role in pushing the United States and Iran toward talks set to begin in Islamabad, a senior Pakistani source told CNN.

The source said Vance helped bring both sides to the table as part of efforts to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict, with negotiations expected to start within hours.

The person familiar with the process said talks could take several days to secure a ceasefire, adding that Pakistani officials hope to persuade Vance to remain in the country to support the effort.

Separately, a senior regional source said Iranian officials have little trust in Steve Witkoff, who is part of the US delegation.

The source said Witkoff led earlier rounds of negotiations that ended after US strikes on Iran, which hurt confidence among Iranian officials.

Donald Trump is overseeing the current diplomatic push, with US officials seeking to restart talks despite tensions between the two sides.

US intelligence indicates China is preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran in the coming weeks, CNN reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the assessments.

The report said Beijing was preparing to transfer shoulder-fired air defense systems and was working to route shipments through third countries to conceal their origin.

China’s embassy in Washington denied the report, saying “China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict” and calling the information “untrue.”

Israel’s ambassador to Australia said his country did not expect Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz when it went to war, telling ABC News the move was not anticipated.

Hillel Newman said Israel had planned for multiple scenarios but “did not assume” Iran would disrupt global energy supplies.

“We would assume that Iran would not affect the global community and the supply chains of energy for the entire world,” he said, adding the closure was “not part of our planning.”