Iran-US talks in Islamabad enter expert-level stage

Talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad have entered the expert-level stage, with economic, military, legal and nuclear committees joining the process, Iran’s government said in a post on the US social media company X.

Negotiations are taking place at a hotel in the Pakistani capital, where technical discussions are focused on finalizing key issues.

The statement said the current phase follows intensive consultations and initial progress on major points, including the release of Iranian assets and developments related to the situation in Lebanon.

Iran has made the release of its frozen assets a central demand, with the US side agreeing in principle, according to the statement.

The situation in Lebanon remains another key issue, as Iran does not accept claims of a full ceasefire despite a significant reduction in strikes in Beirut.

While attacks on the Lebanese capital have largely stopped, limited Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continue, and the matter is being addressed within the ongoing discussions, according to Iran's state media IRIB.

Iranian media had previously reported that discussions would focus on the release of frozen assets and developments in Lebanon, including continued strikes in southern areas despite a broader reduction in hostilities.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Bagher Qalibaf and his team, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and deputy to the National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, arrived in Islamabad earlier on Saturday.

Pakistan is hosting the landmark negotiations, seen as the most significant since 1979, aimed at ending the broader regional conflict amid a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week.