U.S. Vice President JD Vance has expressed cautious optimism ahead of rare direct negotiations between the United States and Iran, stating that Washington is approaching the talks with “open hands” and hopes for a positive outcome.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force Two on Friday, Vance said the U.S. delegation is looking forward to the discussions, which are scheduled to begin in Islamabad.
“I think it’s going to be positive,” Vance said, while noting that the success of the talks would ultimately depend on Iran’s willingness to engage constructively.
His trip marks the first visit by a U.S. vice president to Pakistan since 2011, underscoring the significance of the diplomatic effort as both nations attempt to de-escalate weeks of intense conflict.
The talks, expected to commence on Saturday, follow a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan earlier this week. The truce came 39 days after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a broader regional crisis.
Pakistan has since taken on a central mediating role, inviting both sides to Islamabad for what analysts describe as the most significant direct engagement between Washington and Tehran since 1979.
Vance reiterated that the United States is open to meaningful dialogue but warned that any attempt by Iran to act in bad faith would be met with firm resistance.
“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend the open hand,” he said.
“If they’re going to try to play us, they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” he added.
The vice president emphasized that the U.S. delegation is operating under clear directives from President Donald Trump, who has been vocal about the stakes involved in the negotiations.
Shortly after Vance departed Washington, Trump posted a cryptic message on Truth Social, describing the moment as the “World’s most powerful reset,” though he did not elaborate on its meaning.
The U.S. team is expected to engage Iranian representatives in discussions aimed at reaching a broader peace agreement that could bring an end to the ongoing hostilities.
While Tehran has confirmed its participation, it has yet to publicly disclose the members of its negotiating team. Iranian officials have, however, insisted that certain conditions—particularly an end to attacks in Lebanon—must be met for meaningful dialogue to proceed.
Security has been significantly tightened in Islamabad ahead of the talks, with Pakistani authorities closing off key areas of the city to ensure the safety of delegates and maintain order during the high-profile meetings.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also intensified diplomatic efforts, including holding discussions with international leaders to sustain the fragile ceasefire and push for a long-term resolution.
Despite these efforts, tensions remain high across the region. Continued Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon since the ceasefire announcement have reportedly resulted in over 300 deaths, drawing widespread international condemnation and raising concerns about the durability of the truce.
According to available figures, the conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives in Iran since late February, including the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In Lebanon, the humanitarian toll has also been severe, with nearly 2,000 people killed and thousands more injured since early March.
As negotiations begin, global attention is firmly fixed on Islamabad, where the outcome of the talks could determine whether the region moves toward lasting peace or slips back into renewed conflict.
Diplomatic observers say the coming days will be critical, as both sides test each other’s willingness to compromise while navigating deep-seated mistrust and competing strategic interests.
