US Vice President JD Vance meets with Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif ahead of negotiations with Iran [AFP=Yonhap News]

Ahead of ceasefire negotiations to be held in Pakistan, the mediating country, on the 11th (local time), US and Iranian delegations met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to coordinate negotiation details.

This is interpreted as de facto indirect negotiations having begun through Pakistan, the mediating country.

Iran's state-run IRIB broadcaster reported that the Iranian delegation held talks with Prime Minister Sharif, stating, "The details of the Iran-US meeting will be decided as a result of this encounter."

Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Parliament, and Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister, who are leading the Iranian delegation, met with Prime Minister Sharif.

The Iranian delegation arrived in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, the previous day. The New York Times (NYT) reported that the Iranian negotiation team is a large group of 70 people.

Reuters, citing Iranian local media, reported that the Iranian delegation conveyed the country's negotiation 'red lines' to Prime Minister Sharif.

According to the report, the Iranian delegation told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that the following four points must be guaranteed: ▲ recognition of control rights over Hormuz ▲ compensation for war damages ▲ release of Iran's frozen assets abroad ▲ cessation of hostilities across the Middle East.

The US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, also met with Prime Minister Sharif on the same day. The Prime Minister's Office announced the meeting with the US delegation and stated, "The Prime Minister expressed hope that this meeting would serve as a stepping stone towards firm peace in the region."

The Prime Minister's Office added that the peace talks to end the Middle East war have "begun."

Tasnim news agency, citing Saudi media Al-Hadath, reported that negotiations were scheduled to begin after 5 p.m. local time.

Meanwhile, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that while there were some reports that four countries, including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, were invited to the Islamabad talks, this was not true and only Iran and the United States would participate.

Iranian delegation arrives in Pakistan on the 10th for ceasefire talks with the US [EPA=Yonhap News]