Vice President JD Vance departed Joint Base Andrews aboard Air Force Two on Friday, April 10, 2026, en route to Islamabad, Pakistan, where the first round of high-level U.S.-Iran negotiations is scheduled to begin Saturday morning local time.
He told reporters he expects the talks to be “positive” if Iran negotiates in good faith, but warned Tehran not to “play” the United States, adding that President Donald Trump has provided “pretty clear guidelines” for the delegation.
Vance is leading the U.S. team alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while the Iranian side is expected to include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Security in Islamabad has been significantly heightened ahead of the mediated discussions, which aim to strengthen the fragile two-week ceasefire amid ongoing strains from Israeli strikes in Lebanon and disputes over Strait of Hormuz compliance.
The talks, hosted by Pakistan, aim to build on the recent U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement that included provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Vance warned Iran not to “play” the United States as he departed, stating that President Donald Trump has issued “clear guidelines” for the negotiations, per Fox News.
The ceasefire, announced earlier this week, followed weeks of conflict involving U.S., Israeli, and Iranian forces, per prior coverage by The Dallas Express. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has remained limited despite Iran’s reported reopening, contributing to concerns over global energy supplies.
President Donald Trump has accused Iran of potential violations while expressing hope for a diplomatic resolution.
The discussions come amid Israeli military actions in Lebanon that have reportedly raised the death toll significantly. Reports indicate Israel conducted large-scale strikes across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on Wednesday, described by some as “Black Wednesday,” resulting in hundreds of casualties, per Democracy Now! Hezbollah reportedly responded with rocket fire into northern Israel.
Iranian officials have stated that broader peace talks with the U.S. will not proceed without a ceasefire in Lebanon and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. Preliminary Lebanese-Israeli talks are scheduled for next week in Washington, D.C.
The Vance trip occurs as President Donald Trump has publicly criticized NATO allies for insufficient support during the Iran conflict, posting on Truth Social that the alliance “wasn’t there when we needed them.”
Discussions about potential U.S. withdrawal from NATO have intensified in recent days, per C-SPAN.
White House officials have described the Islamabad negotiations as a critical step toward stabilizing the region and preventing further escalation. Live updates from the talks are expected over the weekend.
