Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for high-level meetings with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief General Asim Malik, in his first foreign trip since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. The visit, which prompted the closure of Islamabad’s red zone and major transport hubs, was described by Iranian officials as an expression of gratitude for Pakistan’s mediation in the US-Iran negotiations. It came one day after talks in Switzerland between US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf produced a 60-day roadmap towards a permanent agreement, even as technical teams began addressing unresolved issues.

Discrepancies quickly surfaced between the two sides. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that no visits by the International Atomic Energy Agency to nuclear sites damaged in previous US strikes were scheduled, contradicting Vance’s assertion that inspectors would be granted access. A further disagreement emerged over the use of Iranian assets that could be unfrozen under a deal: US officials indicated the funds would be directed towards purchases of American agricultural products under a mechanism overseen by Washington and Qatar, while Tehran insisted it alone would decide how to spend its assets once sanctions are lifted. Iranian state media reported that specialised working groups had been formed in Switzerland to address sanctions relief, nuclear issues, reconstruction and monitoring, as well as a contact mechanism for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and a “de-confliction cell” for Lebanon. However, the Lebanon track was tested on Tuesday when Israeli forces opened fire in the southern town of Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, killing two people, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, two days after a ceasefire had been brokered.

Pakistan’s role as intermediary has grown since it hosted Iranian officials during the nearly four-month conflict, including peace talks in Islamabad in April that involved a US delegation led by Vance. Pakistani officials view the visit as an opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and border security, while also addressing the economic fallout from the war, which disrupted the Strait of Hormuz and drove oil prices to near two-decade highs. Pakistan, which shares a roughly 900-kilometre border with Iran, relies heavily on the strait for its energy needs and has long sought to advance a delayed gas pipeline project that has been hampered by US sanctions. The sweeping security measures in Islamabad underscored the sensitivity of the visit, with government offices in the red zone ordered to work remotely and courts suspending operations.

Pezeshkian, before departing Tehran, emphasised that the effectiveness of the diplomatic process depends on “full commitment to the agreed obligations and their precise implementation,” warning that statements outside the agreed text do not advance negotiations. Viewed from Washington, the roadmap represents a structured attempt to end the conflict and secure maritime passage, but the disputes over inspections and asset control, combined with the fragility of the Lebanon ceasefire, illustrate the challenges facing technical negotiators in Buergenstock. The dossier remains open, with further meetings in Islamabad expected to address regional stability and the next round of technical talks continuing in Switzerland, as both sides work towards a final agreement within the 60-day framework.